Adventure centre boss relieved at not guilty verdict.

Byline: By CARL BUTLER

A NORTH Wales adventure centre boss spoke of his relief last night after a health and safety prosecution dramatically collapsed.

James Christopher Jayes and his exwife Anyta Rogers were taken to court after a Cheshire paramedic was left paralysed after a climbing accident.

Denbighshire County Council brought the prosecution against the owners of Llangollenbased JJ Canoeing and Rafting Centre . It claimed they failed to ensure the safety of persons not in their employment by not checking the suitability and competence of an instructor employed by them to lead a climbing lesson in March 2003.

Mr Jayes, 47, of Berwyn Road, Llangollen, and Ms Rogers, 30, of Church Lane, St Martins, Oswestry, both denied the charge.

Judge Roger Dutton directed the jury to clear the couple, claiming no evidence was offered to suggest either Mr Jayes or Ms Rogers in any way failed in their duty of care. Former British White Water Canoe Slalom Champion Mr Jayes, who was recently appointed British Canoe Slalom team coach, said last night: "The last two years have been a great strain on myself and all others involved in the case.

"Immediately following the incident we carried out our own internal investigation and were the subject of a comprehensive investigation by our licensing body the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA).

"Both these investigations concluded that this had been an unfortunate accident and was not a result of any failings by JJ Canoeing and Rafting.

"In fact, in Judge Dutton's directions to the jury he pointed out that the prosecution's own expert witnesses, which included experts from the Mountain Leader Training Board and Mountain Training Trust at Plas Y Brenin, had not been able to criticise in any way the methods and

[e-mail] in place in JJ Canoeing and Rafting.

"The instructor at the centre of the investigation had been properly trained, qualified and experienced in carrying out the activity as an instructor and had been well known to us for seven years before the incident both personally and professionally.

"Naturally we feel great sympathy with Mrs Brennin and regret the pain and suffering caused to her and her family.

"However, I am delighted with the verdict and I believe that the Outdoor Adventure Activity Industry as a whole will be pleased that the courts have seen fit to uphold the nationally recognised licences, awards, practices and qualifications currently relied upon by such activity providers."

Chester Crown Court heard how 32-year-old Runcorn-based paramedic Lisa Brennin was a paraplegicconfined to a wheelchair after a fall at Trevor Rocks, Llangollen, in March 2003.

She was a novice climber enjoying an adventure weekend with a group of colleagues and friends.

She was being supervised by highly experienced mountaineer James McDermott who gained his instructor's certificate 10 days before the accident and was employed under contract by JJ Canoeing and Rafting.

While Mrs Brennin was climbing on a cliff face he shouted for her to let go.

But his instruction was misinterpreted by two of her colleagues who let go of the security rope, causing her to fall.

He was fined pounds 1,500 after admitting putting the public at risk by failing to maintain proper control over the activity

CAPTION(S):

James Jayes said he feel great sympathy with Mrs Brennin; Lisa Brennin was paralysed