A businessman has been fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 compensation to a man left permanently disabled by an accident at work.

John Samtani, 60, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after being found guilty of breaching health and safety laws.

Gary Hounsome was seriously injured while helping to unload marble tiles from a container on premises at Old Wareham Road, Poole, on November 20, 2006.

Mr Hounsome suffered multiple fractures when he was struck by a falling pallet of tiles. Since then he has undergone numerous surgical procedures and still walks with the aid of a stick.

During the case, the court heard the premises were owned by Samtani and leased to Iraj Tohidi – who had not paid rent to him – and that Samtani’s company, Samtani Developments, paid an invoice for the tiles.

Samtani, of Ashwood Drive, Broadstone, was fined a total of £30,000, ordered to pay £50,000 compensation and £25,000 costs.

The court also ordered him to repay some £20,000 in legal aid following an investigation into his financial affairs.

He was given 12 months to pay – and faces 18 months imprisonment if he fails to do so.

Jeff Morley, regulatory manager at Borough of Poole, which brought the prosecution, said: “The council aims to work with businesses to ensure the health and safety of their employees in a practical, cost-effective way.

“However, as in this case, where there is a blatant disregard of health and safety considerations, we will not hesitate to prosecute.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case, as the severity of the punishment demonstrates how seriously the courts deem this offence.”

Samtani called the sentence “very harsh” and said that he would appeal against it.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to pay as I don’t think the business will be able to support it,” he added.