A SCOTS skipper who lost one of his crewmen at sea was jailed yesterday over a series of safety breaches.
A court was told Alexander Baird, 55, was not being blamed for the loss of tragic Steven Robertson, 25.
But a judge blasted his “pretty callous” and “flagrant” disregard for the law, which continued even after Steven’s death in January 2012.
The young fisherman, from Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire, had been unaware his partner Megan Willdig was pregnant with daughter Ava when he died.
He was lost as the scallop dredger St Amant fished off Wales. His body has never been recovered, Mold Crown Court was told.
Baird admitted failing to discharge a duty to ensure St Amant was operated in a safe manner between November 2007 and April 2012.
Jailing the skipper, from Kirkcudbright, for nine months, judge Rhys Rowlands said he put others at risk and only immediate custody was appropriate.
The judge said the defendant’s failings continued even after the loss of Steven, which, he said, showed “a pretty callous disregard of the law and of your responsibilities towards the crew as skipper”.
When failings were pointed out and the vessel detained, Baird had done “the absolute minimum to get the vessel back to sea and no more”.
And he added: “There were repeated failings and a flagrant disregard of the law which meant his culpability was very high.”
Oliver Willmott, prosecuting for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said the boat was inspected and detained on a number of occasions in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Multiple deficiencies were identified which went to the safety of its operation.
Willmott said: “We cannot prove to the criminal standard that there is a causal link between the inadequate management of the vessel and the loss of Mr Robertson.”
He said Steven’s family had been awarded damages in a civil case against Baird.
But the skipper was bankrupt and the boat had been declined insurance cover because it was not in a seaworthy condition.
When the boat was inspected in the Isle of Man, it was said to be one of the worst fishing vessels examined on the island.
Members of Steven’s family were in court to see Baird sentenced. Dad Craig said they believed justice had been done.
Aunt Lindsey Porter said Steven’s daughter would be four in October and added: “Each time we look at her, we see her dad, in her actions and everything.”
And grandad Angus Robertson branded the state of the ship disgusting. He said it had been “a rust bucket” long before the loss of his grandson.
