The mother of a boy who died in a Topshop store in Reading has described her relief after a five year battle saw three companies fined today (October 14) for health and safety breaches.

“Cheeky and caring” Kaden Reddick was killed aged 10 by a queue barrier which fell on him inside the Oracle branch in 2017.

Mum Lisa Mallett said she intends to “spread joy with his name” outside Reading Crown Court, where Topshop/Topman Ltd and its parent company Arcadia Ltd were fined a total of £1m.

“No money, no sentence will ever bring our son back,” said Ms Mallett.

READ MORE: Caversham Lakes slams watersports ban as council considers enforcement action

“I don’t need a court case to see the actual instance, because I see it quite a lot – I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever forget, but hopefully this puts a little stand point at the end of this part and we can go forward now and spread joy with his name."

Reading Chronicle: Kaden ReddickKaden Reddick (Image: Unknown)

She and Kaden’s father Ian Reddick have funded a reading corner in his name at his former junior school Garlands, in Reading, enhancements for is emotional and learning support room and repairing its summer house.

She continued: “Hopefully the fine imposed on Topshop/Arcadia will be enough of a deterrent for other companies so that they now think twice."

She said: “I am relieved that after five years and eight months there has been some sort of resolve.”

During a family outing on February 13, 2017, Kaden was playing around the queue barrier in Topshop and as he put weight on it, the barrier toppled and hit him on the head.

Screws better suited to put “fit a picture on a wall” had been used to secure the barrier, prosecutor James Ageros KC told the court.

“Our lives are completely shattered and even after 265 weeks there is a big empty space,” wrote Ms Mallett in a statement

“There is a hole – a hole that is bottomless so it can’t be filled.”

READ MORE: Update issued on Calcot fire arrests issued after police investigation launched

She continued: “Since Kaden was killed, I hate bangs, I see danger everywhere. I hate that I couldn’t protect him.”

“I miss Kaden with all my heart, and I know nothing will bring him back.”

A two-month trial earlier this year found Arcadia Group Ltd and Topshop/Topman Ltd guilty of failing to discharge a health and safety duty.

A third business, Stoneforce Ltd, which fitted the barrier, had already admitted to a health and safety breach prior to the trial starting in January.

READ MORE: Statue peeing into the River Thames mysteriously appears in town

Ms Mallet said Arcadia and Topshop/Topman should have pleaded guilty to save her family from watching the CCTV footage of her child’s last moments repeatedly.

Sentencing, Judge Heather Norton said: “I wish to pay tribute to Kaden’s family. You had to relive over and over again the events of that terrible day.

“It is humbling to see a family act with such dignity and such calmness.”

She added: "This was for everybody a difficult case