Croydon: A Croydon based leisure company has been convicted of breaching safety regulations and fined £5,000 plus £15,500 in costs, following the tragic death of an eight-year-old East London schoolgirl.

CCL Leisure Ltd of Dingwall Road were found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of breaching safety regulations when Omolola Popoola drowned in just three feet of water at York Hall Swimming Pool, Bethnal Green in May last year.

Judge Christopher Hardy pointed to three breaches of normal operating procedure at the pool that day.

There were only two lifeguards on duty that day when the number of bathers called for three.

The training of the second lifeguard was not completed, and the positioning of one of the lifeguards did not afford the required sight span for safety.

December 28, 2001 11:00