Company admits safety failures over Home Bargains delivery driver's death
But the firm said it was not responsible for the tragedy.
A firm has admitted breaking health and safety rules following the death of one of its workers.
But T.J. Morris, the parent company of Home Bargains, did this on the basis that it was not responsible for the loss of life.
Gary Pickering was killed when his head became trapped between the back of his lorry and its tail lift.
He died from asphyxia due to neck compression.
The 34-year-old married father of one from Swinton, Manchester had been attempting to lower the tail lift to allow goods to be unloaded at the Home Bargains store in Dudley's Churchill shopping precinct during the night of September 9-10, 2013.
Mr Kevin Hegarty QC, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "The incident that led to the death was caused overwhelmingly by the closure of the tail lift in an unexpected way. The pleas by the company recognise their failures."
T.J. Morris pleaded guilty to providing insufficient information for its workers about using the Dhollandia tail lift on the basis that the tragedy was caused by a hidden fault they could not have known about.
It also admitted not meeting its responsibility to assess risk for employees.
Sentencing was adjourned until this morning when full details of the case will be outlined to the court.
