Ashbourne Ltd was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay £33,000 costs by Shrewsbury Crown Court on 7th March 2008 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974.

Rosalind James, aged 89, was a resident at Ashbourne Ltd's St.George's Park Care Centre in Telford on 20th April 2005, when she was found slumped over a set of collapsed bed rails.

Speaking after the case HSE prosecuting inspector Grayam Barnes said:

"Mrs James was a vulnerable person for whom the care centre had a duty to ensure that she was not exposed to risks to her health and safety.

This tragedy could have been prevented if the correct type of bed rails had been fitted."