Trampoline park where four children broke their legs could face further legal action over zero food hygiene score
A troubled trampoline park where four children broke their legs and one fractured her spine could face further legal action after falling to a zero food hygiene score.
The damning hygiene rating is the latest in a series of controversies faced by Supajump, located in Cardiff's Trident Trade Park.
Last year owner Philip Booth, 61, was handed a suspended sentence when he tried to cover up horrific injuries sustained by multiple children at his American-themed jump park.
And council bosses say he could face further legal action after an inspector who visited in March handed the company a shocking score of zero for its food hygiene.
A council spokesperson said: 'As the business was awarded with a food hygiene rating of zero we are currently investigating and this may result in further enforcement action.'
Last year owner Philip Booth (pictured) was handed a suspended sentence when he tried to cover up horrific injuries sustained by multiple children at his American-themed jump park
The damning food hygiene score is the latest in a series of controversies faced by Supajump, located in Cardiff's Trident Trade Park
Speaking to WalesOnline, Mr Booth accepted the negative hygiene report from inspectors but suggested there was no risk to customers.
He said: 'It was all about cleanliness. The downstairs ice cream fridge was dirty, they wanted us to put a wash hand basin downstairs, put lino down in the sweet shop area, defrost the fridge, the slushy machine needed deep-cleaning, one of the coffee machines was spilling over powdered milk all the time, and we needed a paper towel dispenser by the upstairs wash hand basin.
'There was astroturf on the floor in the sweet shop and now there's lino instead because it's easier to clean. We've done all that. It was nothing to do with the food sale. All that was okay.'
The owner argued that if the food served at the trampoline park was dangerous, the council 'would have closed me down'.
He said: 'We've been complying with [the council] and we've done everything they've asked us to do. They'll be coming back again for final inspection.'
In June last year the trampoline park boss admitted to six health and safety offences that happened between August 2017 and October 2019.
In this time four children broke their legs, another fractured her spine and a sixth sustained facial injuries.
Booth narrowly avoided jail time and was sentenced to a ten-month prison term suspended for 19 months and ordered to pay £20,000.
Cardiff Crown Court heard an eight-year-old girl was left 'covered in blood' when she fell through a gap between an airbag and the floor and banged her face.
Prosecutor Carl Harrison said the girl was trapped under the airbag and struggled to breathe but Booth told her mother: 'It's just a graze.'
Mr Harrison said one girl broke two bones in her leg after jumping into a foam pit, 'spearing through the foam' and hitting a hard object beneath.
Supajump owner Philip Booth, 61, argued that if the food served at the trampoline park (pictured) was dangerous, the council 'would have closed me down'
Another child - a three-year-old girl - had her leg placed in plaster up to her hip after breaking her leg at the park.
Mr Harrison said the only first aid offered at the park was a wet towel or ice pack as staff were not trained.
Booth failed to report these injuries to Cardiff Council.
WalesOnline interviewed three others who came forward with claims of injuries suffered after jumping into the foam pit at Supajump.
Mr Harrison told the court that when investigators visited the foam pit they discovered it had not been cleaned 'in months'.
He said: 'When the foam cubes were removed there was no maintenance or cleaning for months.
'They found amongst other things socks, broken plastic cups, a missing trampoline spring, a sanitary towel, coins, electronic devices, a rolled up cigarette and a lighter.'
The court heard Booth was visited by regulators before opening and advised to have an independent safety check but 'chose to ignore' the advice saying 'it is only guidance'.
Booth, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to report an accident at the park.
He also admitted two counts of failing to ensure people were not exposed to health and safety risks while using play equipment.
John Ryan, defending said: 'He has been described a hard-working man who poured his heart and soul into a business but failed in some respects in his ability to properly run it.'
Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant told Booth: 'You chose to open at a time that it should have been apparent to you that the premises were not ready to be open safely.'
Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard an eight-year-old girl was left 'covered in blood' when she fell through a gap between an airbag and the floor and banged her face
He said that Booth 'had a desire to put profit ahead of safety.'
The Supajump website says: 'Supajump's trampoline arena has over 100 interconnected trampolines for bouncing, practising your flips and keeping fit!'
The site also features an American sweet shop and Uncle Sam's American Diner serving freshly made burgers.
