A POPULAR Bournemouth nightspot has been fined £20,000 after a toppled statue left a student with serious injuries.

Bournemouth Magistrate's Court heard yesterday that the ornamental statue, weighing almost 300kg, fell into a crowd of people during a student night at The Lost Garden on March 18, 2014, causing a first year Bournemouth University student multiple fractures to her leg.

Ben Sims, the senior environmental health officer for Bournemouth Council, said it was thought the statue had been pushed over by another customer.

"The circumstances of this incident were unusual and the student has suffered through no fault of her own," he said.

"We think the statue had been pushed by another customer but this person has never been identified, no one witnessed what happened and it was not caught on CCTV.

"Essentially the statue should have been secured to prevent it from being toppled in the first place."

The Garden of Bali Ltd, the company which operates the popular tropical-paradise themed restaurant and cocktail bar in Exeter Road, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing in their duty of care towards their customers.

The Magistrates described the incident as very serious, resulting in particularly horrific injuries, and the company was fined £20,000 with costs of £14,000.

The 20-year-old female student, who does not wish to be named, suffered multiple fractures to her ankle and knee.

The court heard that despite her determination to get back to normal it had been a difficult road to recovery, and the numerous scars on her leg are thought to be permanent.

A public apology was offered on behalf of the company, which pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity in the court proceedings.

The court was told that following the accident, steps were immediately taken to prevent the statue from being toppled by any means and, with the exception of this incident, the Best Bar None award-winning business was otherwise very well operated.

The case was prosecuted by Bournemouth Council’s Regulatory Services department.

A spokesperson from The Garden of Bali Ltd has issued a statement about the case.

It reads: "Everyone at the Lost Garden is extremely sorry that this accident happened. 

"Our failing was that neither we nor our health and safety consultants foresaw that some moronic idiot might take it upon themself to topple the statue – a feat that required considerable strength and effort. 

"We also regret that the person concerned has never had the courage to own up to his actions and to apologise to the student who was seriously injured. 

"The venue has of course been under close scrutiny since the incident over a year ago and is one of the safest places in Bournemouth to go for a night out. 

"We respect the young lady’s request not to be identified but through your pages, would again like to apologise to her and wish her the very best for the future."