SELLAFIELD Limited intends to admit a health and safety breach after a worker was the subject of “personal contamination”, it was revealed.

Representatives of the nuclear processing plant appeared at Carlisle Crown Court last year after a charge was brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

That charge relates to an incident on 5 February, 2017, at a facility which handles special nuclear materials, which resulted in personal contamination to a Sellafield Ltd employee.

The decision to prosecute followed an investigation into the incident by the ONR, the UK’s independent nuclear safety regulator.

No plea was entered last year in court by Sellafield representatives.

But an ONR spokesperson confirmed in a statement this afternoon (TUES): "As part of the ongoing prosecution of Sellafield Ltd., Sellafield Ltd. has formally confirmed to ONR and to Carlisle Crown Court that they intend to plead guilty to an offence under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974), in a case brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.”

A sentencing hearing is due to take place in front of a judge at the crown court on 2nd April.

The ONR spokesman added: “This matter remains subject to active court proceedings so ONR cannot comment any further at this stage for legal reasons.”