A former workmate of a teenager killed when he was caught in a farm machine told a jury he believed his young colleague was not up to the job.

Colin Blowen also told Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday, January 14, how he found the body of trainee groundworker Lee Mason, 17, after the accident which claimed his life.

Mr Blowen was one of three members of staff who worked alongside Lee at a farm, run by RE Hill & Son in Dundry, who gave evidence on Wednesday.

Farm owner Roy Hill, 66, and his son Michael, 32, both deny manslaughter by gross negligence in April 2007. The pair also denied breaching health and safety rules – but Roy Hill has admitted a separate health and safety charge in employing Lee without carrying out a risk assessment.

Mr Blowen said he told his manager Michael Hill several times he thought Lee wasn't capable and even remarked on the day of the tragedy that Lee was working on his own.

The prosecution's case is that Lee was left in sole charge of a soil-sifting machine and must have put his arm into it, with the guard removed, becoming trapped and getting pulled towards the framework, crushing his neck.

Mr Blowen, who did "all sorts of work" for the business when employed there for 20 years, told the jury he met Lee, from Knowle, when the lad started work aged 16.

He said: "He didn't have any ability. He just couldn't do anything. You'd have to show him, show him and show him, and then he'd forget all about it. He was slow, backward."

Mr Blowen said, in the summer of 2005, he told Michael Hill that Lee didn't know what he was doing and he should get rid of him.

"Michael Hill said, 'Give him a chance, he's only a young 'un'," said Mr Blowen. "I spoke to him on many occasions."

The court heard, on the day of the accident, Mr Blowen took Lee to the business's top yard at Bridgwater Farm, where Lee had been operating a recently acquired reconditioned soil-sifting machine, turning rough earth into sieved topsoil.

Mr Blowen described how he had sifted four tonnes of so, loaded it on a lorry and delivered it to Nailsea.

Later that morning, the jury was told, Mr Blowen returned to the top yard, where he found Lee driving a JCB digger, with the bucket full of soil in its raised position, and he told him to keep the bucket down when driving.

It was on a later visit to the top yard when Mr Blowen told the court he found the soil sifter running but no sign of Lee.

Fighting back emotion, he told the court: "I found him. The machine and JCB was still running. I found it with the guard off and I didn't move the guard at all.

"The feeder belt was on and moving and the belt was centred.

"Having found Lee, I telephoned Michael Hill and, shortly after, a paramedic and police arrived."

He said that, while working for RE Hill & Son, he was not aware of a safety officer and he knew nothing about risk assessments. He said staff simply had to use common sense.

Paul Burlinson told the court he was employed as a fitter at the business and he had worked on the reconditioned soil sifter in order for its belt to run through.

He said he had taken off the protective guard when carrying out maintenance but replaced it afterwards.

Mr Burlinson, who is now working for North Somerset Council, told the court there was no safety officer at Hills and described their approach to health and safety as "non-existent".

He said that staff, including Lee, were asked to telephone him or Michael Hill if they encountered problems with machinery.

Richard Salvidge told the jury he had worked for the business for 23 years. He described Lee as a "good kid", who liked machinery and driving the JCB.

He said: "He wasn't that mechanically minded".

Mr Salvidge said while some staff were abrupt with Lee, Michael Hill was more patient with him and showed him how to drive the JCB. He assumed Michael Hill also showed him how to use the soil sifter.

Lee's stepfather Darren Mason told the jury Lee was a small lad who had problems concentrating and always seemed to be in a dream world. Mr Mason said Lee was interested in motorbikes, cars and machines, and loved anything mechanical, but his practical ability was nonexistent.

The court heard that, through a family friend, a position was flagged up at RE Hill & Son, and Lee got a job there and absolutely loved it.

Mr Mason told the jury that, about a year into the job, Michael Hill contacted him and asked him to ask Lee to buck his ideas up.

The court heard Lee was effectively put on trial but did manage to improve and was kept on by the business.

Mr Mason told the court: "He absolutely loved his job and he told me about some of the other characters he was working alongside.

"His time-keeping was excellent, he would go in on Saturdays and he would volunteer to stay on longer to complete things or help out."