Four Companies Charged Over Tragic Topshop Death
Four firms have been charged following the death of 10-year-old Kaden Reddick, who was crushed by a falling queue barrier at a Topshop store in Reading.
Kaden’s Fatal Accident at Reading’s Oracle Centre
Kaden suffered a fatal head injury on 13 February 2017 at the Oracle shopping centre. The queue barrier he was leaning on toppled onto him, leading to his tragic death.
Kaden’s mother, Lisa Mallet, told the inquest: “I heard a smash, then saw the barrier on top of Kaden. At first, I thought he was quiet, but then I realised he wasn’t moving.”
Who’s to Blame? Four Companies in the Frame
- Safety charges have been brought against barrier fitter Stoneforce
- The barrier manufacturer Realm Projects
- Topshop itself
- And its owner, the Arcadia Group
Student witness Niamh Gillespie said she saw Kaden’s feet slip as he swung on the barrier a second time, causing it to topple.
Safety Failings and Shifting Blame
The inquest heard there was no clear manufacturer guidance on securing the barriers to the floor. Realm Projects admitted “there were no rules” since floor types vary by store.
Realm’s David Renshaw defended the product as “totally fit for purpose,” adding that the design specified the units “should be fixed in place to the floor.”
However, Realm was not responsible for installation. That job fell to the individual stores’ fitters.
Former Arcadia procurement manager Alan Prior revealed the original metal barriers — bolted down — were replaced by MDF versions after the supplier went bust in 2012.
Arcadia issued a statement: “Arcadia takes health and safety very seriously and continues to fully co-operate with the authorities regarding this tragic accident. Our thoughts remain with Kaden’s family.”
Queue Barriers Were a Death Trap
The barriers, each weighing 110kg, doubled as product display units aimed at boosting impulse buys while shoppers waited in line.
This horrifying accident has sparked urgent calls for stricter safety rules around in-store fixtures that risk customer lives.
