Neil Speakman jailed for a year after Albie Speakman, his son, died in a 2022 tragic accident.
Neil Speakman ran over his three-year-old son, Albie, on their farm with a faulty machine. He was on trial for gross negligence manslaughter. The jury found him not guilty of that charge, yet he was jailed for twelve months after admitting breaking health and safety rules. Albie’s mom, Leah, said one year was not enough for Albie’s life.
Neil cried, telling jurors, “It’s f*****g not fair.” The trial forced him to relive the awful tragedy. Albie was hit by his dad driving a telehandler in 2022. Speakman recalled picking up his son and rushing inside, but it was too late.
Speakman admitted breaking health and safety laws earlier, which involved Albie’s safety at work. He denied being grossly negligent. The trial took place in Manchester’s Crown Court. Speakman seemed frustrated, saying the prosecutor was shouting and accusing him of bullying.
Speakman called the trial a ‘pantomime’ and the questions ‘tedious’. He claimed lawyers were laughing at him. The judge told him to answer questions, and Speakman apologized, saying it was really difficult.
Speakman accused the lawyer of making him look bad, as if he bulldozed over Albie. He told the prosecutor he was a horrible person. His son died, but the lawyer won, he said, clapping loudly and stating, “Well done.”
Speakman’s defense was simple: he messed up. He stated that it was a tragic accident and that he should not have left Albie in the garden. He said he failed to meet standards of care, but it wasn’t bad behavior; he made a simple mistake.
The prosecution argued the accident was Speakman’s fault. His negligence created a risk of death for Albie. Jurors found Speakman not guilty after one week. He pumped his fist, saying “I told you” to his girlfriend.
The judge warned Speakman all options were open for sentencing on the health and safety breach. Albie’s mom, Leah, made a brave statement, speaking of her pain in court as Speakman cried. She said her world shattered, and nothing can fix her pain.
Leah said she thinks of seeing Albie again and loves her sunshine boy endlessly. After a short break, the judge gave his sentence. The judge said Speakman must face responsibility. It was not bad luck, but a failure to keep Albie safe while caring for him, which was most important.
According to the judge, simple guidelines exist for farm safety, but Speakman disregarded them. Speakman received a jail sentence of one year. As police led him away, he said, “F**g se.” Leah said that one year was not enough and will never be enough for Albie.
Albie Speakman was born on April 8, 2019. He was the only child of Speakman and Leah, who separated soon after Albie’s birth. Albie stayed with Speakman on alternate weekends. On July 16, 2022, Leah dropped Albie off, and Speakman met them at the farm entrance. They went to Burnley to deliver woodchip, and Speakman planned to take Albie to Dino Falls.
CCTV showed them returning, with Albie standing unsecured on the truck bed, holding onto a bar, like Speakman did as a kid. Speakman then did chores around the farm as Albie walked around, holding his dad’s hand and playing with the dogs. Speakman beckoned Albie over, and they walked hand-in-hand to the house.
The next few minutes went unrecorded as Albie played in the back garden, throwing sticks for the dogs. His dad used a telehandler to move woodchip. Speakman reversed the telehandler and felt like he hit a brick. Turning around, he saw Albie’s legs and ran inside to call for help.
Emergency services were called to the farm. Speakman told them he ran over his son, thinking the wheels went over Albie’s head, who was not moving or breathing. They drove Albie to the hospital themselves, stopping a passing ambulance. Speakman told police he reversed slowly, that there was a bit of a bump, and he saw Albie’s foot and body.
Albie was rushed to the hospital but died from injuries to his head, body, and legs. Leah called Albie loving and caring, as he always wanted everyone to be happy. She said she will miss his voice and smile and the feel of his little hands, calling him her sunshine boy and needing to carry on living for him.
Speakman said he lost his best mate and will never teach Albie to drive, or have a beer with him. Albie was caring and helpful and loved being at the farm. Mourners held a vigil for Albie, and hundreds attended his funeral, laying the “sunshine boy” to rest.
Officers and health and safety officials examined the Kramer telehandler. A wing mirror was missing, the other was too dirty to use, and the reverse light was not working. The report said it didn’t meet safety rules, and injuries or death were foreseeable due to the limited operator’s view.
A video emerged online showing Speakman’s fiancée in a bucket that Speakman moved around. The court heard that the HSE sent a warning letter, but Speakman said he never got it. Speakman told police about the morning. They fed horses, burned things, and Albie was throwing sticks to the dogs. Speakman stated that he looked where Albie was.
Speakman then removed pallet forks, looked both ways, and reversed two or three feet, claiming Albie was not there. He felt a bump and stopped, seeing Albie’s feet. Speakman claimed Albie knew not to go near, stating that kids run near machinery on farms all the time. He knew Albie wasn’t stupid because it’s a farm, not a playground, and Albie knew the boundaries.
Speakman didn’t know health and safety law, and his son shouldn’t have been near the tractor. He stated that a gate would have prevented the tragedy. At trial, he reiterated that he messed up and checked again and again for Albie because of the missing mirror. He wouldn’t move the tractor if Albie was near and said he checked every blind spot. He questioned why he would risk his boy’s safety.
Prosecutors asked why he didn’t put Albie inside, and Speakman said it was hot and Albie wanted to play with the dogs. He asked, “Why would I risk my son’s f*****g safety?” He called it a tragic accident and human error that ruined his life. Jurors decided Speakman was not grossly negligent, and he faced sentencing for the safety breach.
Leah said she was sorry after the court case and will forever remain broken. She posted this on Instagram and stated Albie’s story will soon be told. She said until they meet again, his heart could rest. Leah said, “Albie went to that farm and he never came home.”
Leah later spoke to the news, talking about her pain and how she gave birth to another son. She still hasn’t moved on and wonders what Albie saw and felt. Leah took the news team to Albie’s grave with her other son, Ebon, who has Albie’s name as his middle name.
She could not move Albie’s things at first and did not touch his belongings. She didn’t move his cornflake bowl for months. Albie’s things are vacuum-packed, preserved as they were. Leah carries one of Albie’s jumpers with her wherever she goes.
Leah said you just have to exist, to get up and go shopping, and to keep existing. She stays strong for Ebon and struggles to leave him. She texts Ebon’s dad for pictures, wanting to know what he is doing, and is so anxious, but Ebon is the reason she keeps going.
Albie’s family faced a court hearing where Speakman was sentenced for the safety breach, having past convictions, including violence and public order offenses, and a suspended sentence from 2009. Speakman’s lawyer said he received Universal Credit, and his family income was £1,300, with a disposable income of £660, stating the trial hit Speakman hard.
The lawyer said the farm operates differently now and pointed to Speakman being a carer, asking the court to consider how prison impacts his children and to suspend the sentence. The lawyer said the public will see the deterrent in this case as the lifelong loss versus immediate prison. The prosecutor called it a category one harm case, and the judge jailed Speakman for one year.
The judge called it a terrible tragedy but blamed Speakman, not bad luck, for failing to keep Albie safe. Speakman was Albie’s carer, and there were three adults on the farm that morning, so it was not difficult to keep Albie safe. Albie was near the vehicle unprotected, rear visibility was affected, and the vehicle had no warning sound.
The judge stated Speakman’s actions created a high risk of harm, even death, and that prior convictions aggravate the case, showing a history of disregarding safety. The loss of Albie had a profound impact, so he took steps to make the farm safer. Only immediate custody can provide punishment since safety was not ensured. Farm accidents are far higher than in other industries.
The judge stated that unsafe workplaces endanger people. The farming community must understand the legal consequences. Hours later, HSE issued a warning and picture of the vehicle involved. As he was led away, Speakman said, “F** s***e.”
After the hearing, Leah was disappointed, although the jury had cleared Speakman. However, she was glad to see him go to jail and said to see him walk down those steps felt good, although six months felt inadequate. She stated there was not much justice, but rather acknowledgment. The sentence was not proportionate because her loss is lifelong, and one year is not enough for her little boy.