THE boss of a fireworks firm who admitted breaching health and safety regulations after an assistant was blinded carried on touting for work with fake insurance during his court case.

Jason Edgecombe, 29, was running JWP Fireworks when Chris Hignell lit a professional display mortar, which went off without a time delay straight in his face, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Edgecombe, of Northcote Road, Mangotsfield, was to have faced a five-day trial in June but on the first day of it he pleaded guilty to fraud for possessing and using a false public liability insurance certificate.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Yet in July this year, Edgecombe was still trading, having organised a fireworks display at Bridport without valid insurance, the court heard.

Edgecombe was sentenced yesterday to a 36-week suspended prison sentence after the additional evidence emerged.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Hignell £5,000 in compensation and banned from organising or working at firework displays for two years.

The court heard that 52-year-old Mr Hignell, of Hatherley, Yate, was blinded in his left eye and had 19 surgical procedures and 75 hospital visits at Frenchay Hospital and Bristol Eye Hospital for reconstructive facial surgery. He is back in hospital for a further operation this Christmas.

Alan Fuller, prosecuting, said Edgecombe's lack of co-operation with investigators and the court had cost the taxpayer £19,000. He said Edgecombe fraudulently obtained insurance not only to buy show-grade fireworks, but to stage firework displays.

In May, 2008, Mr Hignell and Darren Minto were assisting him on a firework show at a wedding reception at Chewton Place, Keynsham, using category four mortars with no time-delay fuse, which are used only by professionals.

Mr Hignell had conducted small displays but had no experience of category four fireworks, said Mr Fuller.

He added: "Mr Hignell wore overalls but was not issued goggles or gloves. He was offered a hard hat but declined. There was no other guidance. No risk assessment or safety procedures. Mr Hignell lit the fuse on Edgecombe's cry of "Now!" and the firework shot straight into his face."

The court heard Edgecombe continued the display, leaving Mr Minto to help Mr Hignell, who was taken to Frenchay Hospital, where he remained for 13 days.

Mr Fuller said Edgecombe had been refused insurance before so he had touted for business using insurance certificates he applied for online out of work hours and printed before the firm could contact and decline to insure him.

"The defendant was continuing to advertise online the services of JWP and to conduct displays (after the incident)," said Mr Fuller.

Defending, Anna Vigars said: "Mr Edgecombe has not accepted all of the blame but he bitterly regrets the injuries."

Judge Neil Ford QC condemned Edgecombe's actions but said his hands were tied by the Health and Safety legislation.

"Had you committed the offence recently you could have lost your liberty in respect of it. As the law was at the relevant time, you cannot," he told Edgecombe.

Speaking to the Evening Post afterwards, Mr Hignell said: "We're disappointed but the judge has been as harsh and imaginative as he could be. I'm thankful to all the doctors and nurses at the Frenchay and the Bristol Eye Hospital."