http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003262250,00.

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Machine castrates worker

By PHILIP CARDY

A WORKMAN was castrated as he reached over a machine which had no guard on it.

Stacey Waring’s testicles were cut off and his penis was damaged when his tracksuit bottoms got caught in an engine’s rotating shaft, a court heard.

Mr Waring, 30, had to undergo plastic surgery and will need hormone treatment for the rest of his life.

Magistrates fined an asphalting firm £10,000 and ordered it to pay Mr Waring a maximum £5,000 compensation over the horror. Mr Waring, of Bolton, Lancs, was working for Noriphalt Ltd on a casual basis while on leave from the Army.

He was in a five-man team repairing a roof when the accident happened in 2001. He had to lean over the engine to reach a control lever on an asphalt tanker.

Prosecutor Ian Connor said Mr Waring was not given formal training and there was no supervision on site. The shaft guard had been missing for more than a week.

Wigan-based Noriphalt admitted two safety breaches. Blackpool magistrates also ordered the firm to pay £2,530 costs.

Mr Waring, who lives with his partner, is suing the firm.

He said yesterday: “This has had a traumatic effect on my life. I’ve been through agony.”

In a way, I am surprised this kind of accident does not happen more often. I cut out the Sun article, and was going to post it here but was thankfully beaten to it. (Thankfully? Because I may never have got round to it.)

There is a particular girlfriend of mine who I have an understanding with: she likes me to read out this kind of story, it makes her give a real belly laugh, then we sometimes play act her coming to visit the victim in hospital, making him dress up in her clothes as he is no longer entitled to wear men's clothing, etc, etc.

John Crinnion (imported) wrote: Sun Jun 29, 2003 7:04 am In a way, I am surprised this kind of accident does not happen more often. ...... There is a particular girlfriend of mine ...... she likes me to read out this kind of story ...... then we sometimes play act her coming to visit the victim in hospital, making him dress up in her clothes as he is no longer entitled to wear men's clothing, etc, etc.

Why is there such a big concern about the kind of clothing that a man wears? Women can wear any clothing that they choose and it is totally acceptable.