A scaffolder fined for putting himself and the public at risk with unsafe practices believes he was “made an example of’.

Christopher Harker, 35, of Coronation Hill in Epping, was prosecuted after health and safety inspectors saw him climbing a scaffold he set up without restraints and throwing dangerous items to his assistant below.

The court’s fined an apologetic Mr Harker £1,377 and £1,000 costs.

Mr Harker said: “I thought the fine was steep under the circumstances.

“In the reality of the work, it is tempting to take short cuts and get a job done as quickly as possible, but I understand why the rules are there.”

“There was nothing unsafe about the scaffold. They were worried about my own safety.

“The road was quiet so there was no immediate danger to the public.”

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday