THE COMPANY fined £300,000 after an employee died while fitting out a Dundee sports centre have lodged an appeal against the sentence.

Mitie Engineering Services (Edinburgh) Ltd received the penalty after being found guilty of failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare of its employees, with the result that electrician Michael Adamson was electrocuted.

The 26-year-old had been working with colleagues on the afternoon of August 4, 2005, when he touched a live wire that had been marked ‘Not in Use.’

A five-week trial, which concluded last month, heard criticisms of working practices within the industry, in particular at the JJB Sports Centre at Gallagher Retail Park, East Dock Street, where Mr Adamson was working when he died.

Senior Mitie personnel, who had also been charged on an individual basis, were cleared after Sheriff Elizabeth Munro held they had no case to answer.

While imposing the £300,000 fine on the firm, Sheriff Munro criticised its “cavalier attitude” towards safety.

A spokesperson for the court yesterday confirmed an appeal against the sentence (not the conviction) was lodged by Mitie on October 30.

A judge’s report is now being compiled and should be available by December 1.

A spokesperson for Mitie Engineering said it would be inappropriate for the firm to comment at this time.