Zoo Faces Sentencing After Keeper Killed By Tiger

A zoo is due to be sentenced today after one of its employees was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger.

South Lakes Safari Zoo entered guilty pleas at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in relation to the day of the tragedy.

It came after zoo keeper Sarah McClay, 24, from Glasgow, was pounced on in the keeper's corridor of the tiger house at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on May 24 2013.

The company admitted that on or before May 24 2013 it failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, including Miss McClay, arising out of and/or in connection with the keeping of big cats.

It also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that persons not in its employment on the above date were not exposed to risk to their health and safety.

The prosecution offered no evidence against the firm's sole director, David Gill, 55, who faced individual charges on the same allegations and formal not guilty verdicts were recorded against him.

It is expected that the company will receive a financial penalty on Friday.