TOPSHOP and Arcadia Group appeared in court today charged with allowing the death of a 10-year-old boy after he was crushed by a queue barrier.

Kaden Reddick was swinging on the structure when it fell on his head at Reading's Oracle shopping centre in 2017.

The queue barrier weighed 180kg – four times heavier than Kaden.

Topshop, owned by Sir Philip Green and its sister company, could face a massive fine if convicted of Kaden's death.

Sitting in the public gallery was the schoolboy's heartbroken mum Lisa Mallett, who had been at the store with her mother and two daughters.

More than four years after Kaden’s death, Arcadia Group Ltd, Realm Projects Ltd, Stoneforce Ltd and Topshop/Topman Ltd were all charged with health and safety offences in relation to the incident at the Shopping Centre.

Realm Projects was the manufacturer and Stoneforce was responsible for fitting the barrier in the store, the court heard today.

James Ageros QC, prosecuting, said: "Kaden Reddick was killed when a barrier which he had been playing on fell on top of him causing fatal injuries."

Following the tragedy, it was alleged that more than a dozen barriers in stores across the UK were either inadequately fastened or were not fixed at all to the floor.

Today, Judge Heather Norton ruled that a full day hearing would be needed to debate whether Reading Borough Council had the authority to prosecute offences that were "not on its patch."

Sitting at Reading Crown Court, Judge Norton scheduled a provisional full trial date of January 10, 2022, which was listed to last for 10 weeks.

Last March, Kaden's mum Lisa said his death "left a massive hole in our lives" after a coroner ruled that his death was an accident.

Speaking after the accidental death verdict, Lisa Mallet said: "Kaden was my second son and he was the little boy who changed life forever.

"He was a loving little boy and his death has left a massive hole in our lives."

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