At Bracknell Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the company was fined over £60,000 for failing to comply with one section of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and also three charges of failing to notify Bracknell Forest Council of an accident involving an employee.

The incident in question took place in June 2009 when an employee fractured his little toe whilst unloading cages off a lorry at the store in Warfield.

Ten days prior to the accident, a warehouse operator also injured himself whilst unloading a lorry, resulting in a fractured ankle. However, the incident was not reported to the relevant council, which was only discovered during the investigation into the second incident.

A spokesperson for the prosecution said: “Indications show that the accident was caused because the dock level didn’t sit flush with the back of the lorry. The plate, which was the bottom of the roll cage, was placed over the gap to marry it up.”

During court it was also heard that two other employees had suffered injuries at the Sandhurst store, which again weren't reported to the local council.

Defending the supermarket: “The company is naturally sorry and happy to say sorry in this public forum in which it finds itself.

“It is not in our interest in any way for our staff to be injured. We do, and have, for many years invest in systems and procedures to try and make sure accidents don’t happen and make sure people do have the right training, the right equipment so as to allow them to arrive at work safely, work safely and go home safely.

The company was ordered to pay fines totalling almost fifty thousand pounds; £14,000 for breaching the health and safety act, £10,000 each for the failing to notify charges and £14,000 for the third failing to notify charge.

The company also agreed to pay court costs of £25,000.