Police appeal to find wanted Felixstowe man Peter Clifford who failed to appear in court charged with gross negligence manslaughter

Police have launched an appeal to find a wanted man who failed to appear in court charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Peter Clifford, 63, formerly of Holland Road, Felixstowe, was charged with three offences in October following the death of a man who was undertaking renovation work on a house in Woodbridge on December 15, 2020.

Dale Baker, 30, of Felixstowe, died at the scene after suffering serious injuries in the incident in Haughgate Close.

A joint investigation was launched between the police Major Investigation Team and the Health and Safety Executive, which resulted in a case file being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service who subsequently authorised five charges against Clifford.

They were:
-Gross negligence manslaughter;
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the excavation of a trench and landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to employees);
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to neighbours).
Two charges were made against Hintonwood East Anglia Ltd, c/o Peter Clifford (Director):
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the excavation of a trench and landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to employees);
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to neighbours).

Clifford was summonsed to appear before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 15 last year, but then failed to attend a subsequent hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, March 20 and was also absent at a further hearing today.

Following his first failure to appear, the court issued a warrant for his arrest and police are now appealing for help from the public to locate him.

Clifford is described as white, 5ft 10in, bald with receding hair at the sides and of heavy build.

He has links to Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and London.

Anyone who believes they have seen Peter Clifford, or who has any information regarding his whereabouts, is asked to contact Suffolk Police quoting reference: 37/72620/20.