A construction worker fell more than 60ft to his death from a when no back-up safety system was used.

Steeplejack David Clover was working on St Nicholas’ Church in Birmingham on November 13, 2020. He had been carrying out restoration work when he fell from a "bosun's chair"; a device used to suspend a person from a rope to perform work at height.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in the Kings Norton area of the city but the 64-year-old could not be saved and died from "multiple injuries". An investigation by the found the chair was not supported by a suitable backup system to prevent falls.

Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, who employed Mr Clover to carry out the work, has ceased trading since the fatal fall. The company pleaded guilty to contravening Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £60,000 at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

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Sentencing, Judge Shamim Quereshi said the company had "outdated attitudes" to managing health and safety. The HSE said the bosun’s chair should have been supported by a suitable backup system such as a double or twin leg lanyard fall arrest harness.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Emma Page said: “Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of work-related deaths and injury in Great Britain. We will take action against companies that fail to protect workers. Our thoughts remain with the family of David Clover.”

A spokeswoman said previously: “We were called to reports of a man falling while working on a church in Pershore Road South, Kings Norton. A 64-year-old man from Birmingham was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and his family have been informed. The Health and Safety Executive have been informed and enquiries are continuing.”