WIDOW Sharon O'Toole said the £10,000 fine given to a company that breached health and safety rules, leading to the death of her husband, is an insult.

Mrs O'Toole, whose daughter Chloe is three today, said she feels let down by the system which only allowed the court to deal with health and safety matters.

She said: "I have to explain to my daughter what happened to her father and I feel really let down by the fine, which does not reflect that my husband was killed."

Mr O'Toole was killed when a pallet fell on him as he drove past a 45ft articulated lorry on his motorbike on November 17 last year.

Corrugated Cases Ltd, of Desborough Business Park, High Wycombe, appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court on Wednesday.

The company admitted breaches under Health and Safety at work legislation regarding danger to employees and non-employees during loading and unloading, and one specific charge of failing to make sufficient or adequate risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Act.

Caroline Knight, prosecuting, told the court the accident happened when a pallet was being removed by a fork lift truck driver and another pallet was knocked on top of Mr O'Toole.

Simon Redhead, defence counsel, said in mitigation that the company expressed deep regret at what had happened and that all recommendations made by safety experts had been put in place.

Judge Daniel Rodwell QC imposed fines totalling £10,000, including £6,000 for the risk assessment failure and £2,000 on each of the other offences brought under Health and Safety Regulations. He added: "The fines the court imposes have no bearing to the value of Mr O'Toole's life."

He said the crown court is restrained by the authority of the Court of Appeal as to the approach it must take in this kind of case.