SOUTH Lakes Safari Zoo failed to address risks to the public and staff arising from the escape of a big cat, a court heard.

The company has admitted two health and safety breaches in relation to the death of Sarah McClay who was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger in 2013.

Individual charges against 55-year-old David Gill, the zoo's director, were dropped. The prosecution offered no evidence against him.

Miss McClay's boyfriend David Shaw said it didn't surprise him that Mr Gill had "thrown the company under the bus".

He added that it had taken a long time to reach a "fairly inevitable conclusion".

Miss McClay, 24, died at the Dalton zoo in May 2013.

A Sumatran tiger, which got through an unlocked gate, left deep puncture wounds in her neck and body. She suffered multiple injuries in the attack and was airlifted to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Miss McClay, who lived in Barrow but was originally from Glasgow, had worked at the park for more than two years and was experienced at working with big cats.

Yesterday at Preston Crown Court the prosecutor for the Crown was Mr Nigel Lawrence and the zoo was represented by Mr Ben Compton who gave 'guilty' pleas on behalf of the company.

Mr Gill remained expressionless throughout the hearing.

The zoo pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two other contraventions of the Health and Safety at Work Act when a zoo keeper fell from a ladder while preparing to feed big cats in July 2014. The company admitted it failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees, including Yasmin Walker, and to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

Sentencing will take place at Preston Crown Court tomorrow, when the company is expected to be heavily fined.

It was revealed in court that in the last tax year the zoo earned £67,000 operating profit during the last financial year.

The judge asked for the personal impact statements from Miss McClay's family to be handed to him before sentence.

Leaving court, Mr Gill said he couldn't make any comment until he had spoken to his barrister but may do on Friday.

After the hearing, Mr Shaw said: "It's a shame this has gone on as long as it has and ended up reaching a fairly inevitable conclusion.

"But at least it has stopped us from having to sit through a lengthy trial."

Commenting about the lack of charges against Mr Gill, he added: "He was the management at the time and it's hard to distinguish between him and the zoo.

"It doesn't surprise me that he has thrown the company under the bus."

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