Craig Williams, 37, is accused of gross negligence manslaughter following the boy’s death on November 3, 2016
The former boss of a children’s bed company has appeared in court charged over the death of a seven-month-old baby.
Craig Williams, 37, is accused of gross negligence manslaughter following the boy’s death on November 3, 2016.
The toddler – who cannot be named for legal reasons – died from ‘positional asphyxiation’ at a property in York, North Yorkshire, according to a coroner’s report.
Williams was a director of Sheffield-based firm, Playtime Beds Ltd, which supplied beds and cots for families.
After the youngster’s tragic death last year, the company was forced to issue a safety warning to customers.
It stated its made-to-measure beds ‘could lead to risks to children such as asphyxiation or strangulation, falling, entrapment or crushing’.
This included children’s cots, twin beds, bunk beds, cabin beds, high sleeper beds and triple and quadruple beds.
Both Williams and former colleague Joseph Bruce, 30, also from Rotherham, are both charged with fraud by false representation.
The fraud charge relates to making ‘false representations’ to a female customer – namely that the bed supplied complied with British Standards.
Williams appeared at court in a shirt and tie with black jacket and spoke only to confirm his name, age and nationality.
Both Williams (left) and former colleague Joseph Bruce (right), 30, also from Rotherham, are both charged with fraud by false representation
Bruce appeared at court in a green jacket and grey trousers and spoke only to confirm his name, age and nationality.
Both men sat motionless throughout.
No pleas were entered during the brief 15 minute hearing at York Magistrates’ Court.
The family of the deceased watched the proceedings from the public gallery.
District Judge Adrian Lower adjourned the case to crown court and gave the defendants unconditional bail.
The court heard neither men are currently involved in the production of making beds.
He said: ‘Mr Williams you face a charge which can only be heard at the crown court.
‘All matters will be allocated to the crown court.
‘If you don’t attend you will be subject to a warrant for your arrest.’
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