Shepherd Neame has been fined £10,000 today after one of its employees lost his finger.

The Faversham-based brewery was in the dock at Maidstone Magistrates Court this afternoon, after a 21-year-old man had to have his finger amputated.

William Scanlan, from Sheerness, was working as a warehouse operative at the brewers in Court Street when the incident took place on June 23 last year.

Mr Scanlan had been hosing down machinery, used to clean used and empty beer casks, when he slipped and his hand fell into a sprocket as he tried to regain his balance.

His hand and glove became trapped in the machine and engineers had to be called in to turn it off and release Mr Scanlan's hand.

But it was too late - the top of Mr Scanlan's index finger had been ripped off and his thumb and middle finger had been crushed.

He was rushed to East Grinstead hospital where doctors had to amputate his index finger, but managed to save his thumb and middle finger.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were brought in to investigate the incident.

At today's hearing, the court heard that the machinery was fenced off and the only access that should have been used was through an electronic interlocking gate, which switched off the machinery on entry.

But Mr Scanlan had used a side entrance, which was supposed to be locked by a bolt and was only meant to be used by engineers - but the gate had been unlocked for more than four years, despite advice from the HSE in 2012.

Speaking at today's hearing, HSE inspector Robert Hassell said: "Since the incident, Mr Scanlan has had trouble sleeping, experiences phantom pain and has also not been able to work.

"He was by no means the only employee to use the gate and various employees say that it has been unlocked for quite some time.

"The company was aware of the risk and the potential harm was much greater than what Mr Scanlan experienced."

Shepherd Neame were ordered to pay a £10,000 fine, £1,070 in costs and £1,000 victim surcharge.

During the hearing, they indicated they would help to rehabilitate Mr Scanal and would consider compensation in due course.

Since the incident, they have made vigorous changes including placing a warning sign on the door and installing a padlock.

They have also created a risk assessment for the machinery.

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