MYSTERY still surrounds the deaths of two workers found lifeless inside a chicken factory with their hands and feet frozen.

The bodies of Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan Collins, 34, were discovered in a refrigerator at Banham Poultry in Norfolk, back in October 2018.

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Neil Moon was working for Banham Poultry as a pest control subcontractors when he lost his lifeCredit: Norfolk Police
 

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Jonathan Collins was also working for Banham Poultry as pest control subcontractor when he lost his lifeCredit: Norfolk Police
 

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The two men were found dead at Banham Poultry in Attleborough, Norfolk at about 1.10am on 4 October 2018Credit: PA
Now more than seven years after the grim discovery, the companies at the centre of the tragedy have finally admitted criminal failings.

Despite the guilty pleas, the exact chain of events leading to the men’s deaths remains unclear.

Norfolk Police said at the time of the incident that a possible refrigeration gas leak was being investigated as a line of inquiry.

The companies, Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products Plc, were due to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court charged with corporate manslaughter.

But before the case was put to a jury the companies pleaded guilty to health and safety offences.

Prosecutors deemed these pleas acceptable and the companies will be sentenced at a two-day hearing from March 31.

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, said the guilty pleas to the health and safety offences were on the basis that the “breaches were causative of the deaths of Mr Moon and Mr Collins”.

He said that at the point of sentence he would offer “no evidence in respect of the corporate manslaughter charges”.

The prosecutor also invited the judge, Mrs Justice Judith Farbey, to formally record verdicts of not guilty to the manslaughter charges.

Banham Poultry has changed hands twice since the men’s deaths and the current owners were not involved in the legal proceedings.

Barrister Shauna Ritchie, representing Banham Poultry Limited, entered guilty pleas on behalf of the company to two counts of failing to discharge a duty under the Health And Safety at Work Act 1974.

Barrister Simon Antrobus KC, for Air Products Plc, entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company to one count of failing to discharge a duty under the Health And Safety at Work Act 1974.

The legal representatives for the companies each entered pleas of not guilty to two charges of corporate manslaughter in respect of Mr Moon and Mr Collins.

Mr Hassall said that the “decision to accept these pleas… was made by the Crown Prosecution Service”.

He said the decision had been made “following consultation with the family”, Norfolk Police and the relevant division of the CPS.

No details about the case were opened at Wednesday’s hearing.

At the time of the tragedy, Norfolk Police said a possible refrigeration gas leak was being investigated as a line of inquiry.

Mr Moon and Mr Collins, who were found at about 1.10am on October 4, 2018, had been working at the Station Road site as pest control subcontractors.

At the time of the pair’s death, Jonathan’s family released a heartbreaking statement which was heard at an inquest.

In which they described him as “a devoted family man who will continue to be loved and missed by all those who knew him”.

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Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products Plc pleaded guilty to health and safety offences and prosecutors deemed these pleas acceptableCredit: PA