Albie Speakman suffered catastrophic injuries from the collision with a telehandler that Neil Speakman was operating in Bury on July 16, 2022.
The tragic incident happened in a yard next to an unsecured small garden area at the front of the farmhouse in Bentley Hall Road, Walshaw, where the defendant had left Albie to play.
Earlier this month, a jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court cleared Speakman, 39, of gross negligence manslaughter.
On the first day of his trial, Speakman pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the health and safety of Albie.
Jurors were told that to find he had acted with gross negligence they needed to be sure the circumstances of the breach were “truly exceptionally bad”.
The toddler’s mother, Leah Bridge, had dropped off her son at the farm on July 16 for a regular weekend visit with Speakman, who she separated from shortly after Albie’s birth.
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today, Friday, John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, said that an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertook an inspection of the Kramer telehandler.
He said that parents are responsible for their children’s welfare and most children are killed in a farm accident when they are with a parent.
Albie’s mum Leah Bridge gave a moving victim impact statement, which said: “On July 16, 2022, my life changed forever, in every single way imaginable.
“My world has been shattered into a million irreparable pieces, and no one can fix it or understand what I am going through.
“And there are absolutely no words to describe how I’m feeling – pain, sadness, heartbreak, they don’t even come close.
Read more: Tottington farmer accused of manslaughter gives evidence
“I am so scared that I will start to forget his voice or the things he said.
“I have already forgotten his smell and how it felt to have his little hands on my face.
“Albie, you are my ‘everything boy’ and I am your ‘everything girl’.
“The only thing that keeps me going is thinking that every new day is one day closer to me seeing you again.
I love you endlessly my sunshine boy.”
Alexander Leach KC, defending, said that there was deep emotion felt by Speakman and he has suffered immense bereavement.
Mr Leach said that the farm operates “entirely different” now.
He also said that an immediate custodial sentence would have an impact on the running of his farm and caring for his two young children he shares with his partner.
Read more: Tottington farmer ran over own son, age three, court hears
Judge, Mr Justice Charles Bourne KC, said he acknowledged Albie’s death had had a “very profound impact” on the defendant and that he had since taken steps to make the farm a “much safer place” for his two young children by his current partner.
However, he sentenced Speakman, of Bentley Hall Road, to one year in prison.
Addressing the defendant, Mr Justice Bourne said: “To state the obvious, it was a terrible tragedy for the child, for you and for Ms Bridge and the other family members.
“You have got to face up to the responsibility of that.
“What happened on July 16, 2022, was not bad luck, it was an entire failure to look after Albie and keep him safe.
“It was not appropriate for you to work. Caring came first.
“There were three adults at the farm that day so there was nothing difficult in keeping him safe.”
Following the sentencing, HSE inspector Mike Lisle said: “This tragedy could easily have been avoided if our guidance was followed.
“Our guidance clearly states children should be kept away from farming activities and work traffic, remaining in a safe space, such as a securely fenced play area.
“Farms are workplaces, but often have a farm house within the grounds. This makes the provision of safe areas for children even more important.”
