Jack Savva’s sentence, suspended for two years, relates to an incident on 6th August when he and his team were carrying out a loft conversion in Windsor.

Despite informing the property owners that work was required on the building’s chimney breast, Savva instructed his workers to remove key supporting timbers and steels. This caused the brick gable wall to collapse, injuring three workers, and destroying the first floor of the home, which was occupied at the time.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Savva had failed to ensure the structure did not collapse while in a state of temporary weakness. He had not taken steps to address the unsupported chimney breast before dismantling the roof, and failed to take all practicable steps to prevent danger to any person while the building was temporarily weakened.

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Savva’s public liability insurance was also found to be invalid, leaving the homeowner with a £200,000 repair bill to cover.

The builder pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 19(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. In addition to his suspended custodial sentence he was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the homeowner at a hearing before Reading Crown Court on 17th September 2025.

“Although three men were seriously injured, it was lucky nobody was killed,” said Dominic Goacher, HSE inspector.

“This was a completely avoidable incident had he acted on his findings regarding the unsupported chimney breast and taken steps to support the gable wall before removing the roof components.

“Jack Savva should have taken precautions to protect people from the risk of collapse.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Alan Hughes and supported by HSE paralegal officer Melissa Wardle.