A PROPERTY management company has appeared in court over alleged maintenance failings that led to a resident of a block of flats falling to his death down a lift shaft.

The prosecution by the Health & Safety Executive follows the death of plasterer Craig Jones on August 30, 2014.

Mr Jones plunged five storeys at Marsden House in Marsden Road in Bolton town centre after prising open the doors of an elevator that stopped between floors. The 27-year-old died five hours later in hospital.

Warwick Estates Property Management, of Harlow, Essex, faces a single charge of failing to discharge its duty under the Health And Safety At Work Act by failing to conduct property management at Marsden House so that people not in its employment, namely Mr Jones, were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

The case was heard by Bolton Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Lisa Judge, counsel for the firm, said she was not in a position to indicate a plea and said the prosecution’s case may be contested.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Bolton Crown Court.

A preliminary date of June 20 has been scheduled for a hearing but the court was told this is likely to change following further discussion between the parties.

An inquest held at Bolton Coroner’s Court in April found Mr Jones’ death to have been accidental.