The boss of a tyre company has gone on trial today over the death 10 years ago of a 21-year-old fitter.

Watling Tyres Services director Andrew Wright, 58, has denied two charges of failing his duty towards employee Matthew Hoare and worker Michael Burgess.

Prosecutor Quentin Hunt told a jury at Canterbury Crown Court: “In a nutshell, this prosecution revolves around a puncture repair that resulted in a fatal injury to Matthew on January 27 2006 at Hammill Brick Limited, Sandwich, Kent.

“Mr. Hoare was attempting to repair a puncture on the nearside front tyre of a Dresser Loading Shovel in his capacity as an employee of Watling Tyres.

“During the course of the repair the tyre exploded, releasing compressed air, causing fatal head injuries to Mr. Hoare.

“Mr Burgess, an employee of Hammill Brick Limited, who was standing close to the incident and was therefore also exposed to risk of injury as a result of the failings of Watling Tyres, “ he claimed.

Mr Burgess told the jury how he watched Mr Hoare thrown 30 foot against a wall after the explosion.

He said: “There was a big bang and everything went white. I looked around for Matthew but couldn’t see him.”

Mr Burgess added he saw a ripped Hi-viz vest before finding his friend’s body, adding: “I thought he was still alive but he wasn’t”

Watling Tyres, which is based in Green Road, Dartford, has pleaded guilty to breaches of their duties under sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - failure to safeguard the Health and Safety of both employees and non - employees.

Mr Hunt added: “The prosecution say that Wright, as a director of the company is personally liable due to the offence of the defendant company was attributable to his neglect.”

Mr Hoare, from Shalmsford Street, Chartham, had been working for Watling Tyres at its Sturry depot when he was sent to Sandwich.

Mr Hunt added: ““The prosecution say that the offences committed by the company were due to the neglect of Wright, the man at the top of the tree.

“He was the one tasked with making sure that persons were not exposed to risks to their health and safety due to the activities of the company.

“When one considers the catalogue of failures that surrounded the death of Mr Hoare it is clear that we are not dealing with a single isolated failing but a series of systemic failures within the company which is indicative of negligence at the highest level.”

The prosecutor alleged: “Quite simply, Wright should not have let things get as bad as they were. In allowing things to get this bad he was at the very least negligent in his role as director of the company.

“Wright should have known about the risible state of Health and Safety at Watling Tyres by virtue of his position as director responsible for Health and Safety, “ he claimed.

Wright, of Quaker Close, Sevenoaks is allowed to sit behind his lawyers for the hearing rather than in the secure dock.

The trial is expected to last a week.