'Their failings have destroyed my life.' These are the words of a man who sustained life-changing injuries when he suffered a massive electric shock while at work.

Jon Howes was speaking immediately after a court case in which two Norfolk companies were fined a total of more than £214,000 after admitting health and safety failings following an incident on farmland at Felmingham on April 29, 2014.

Mr Howes, of The Street, Old Costessey, suffered the electric shock after the drilling rig he was working on came into

contact with a power line that was carrying a load of 11,000 volts of electricity.

The massive shock threw him to the ground and dangerously close to the still live line. His life was only saved by the swift actions of two police officers who dragged him to safety despite great risk to themselves.

Speaking outside the courtroom yesterday Mr Howes, said: 'All of my injuries and the pain and suffering of the last two-and-a-half years are entirely down to people seemingly unable or unwilling to do their jobs.

'Though a fine may be an inconvenience in the short-term, it's nothing compared to what I have to contend with every day.

'Their failings have destroyed my life. Hopefully this fact will remain with them somewhat longer.'

Yesterday at Norwich Crown Court, employers Norwich-based TW Page and Son and North Walsham-based LF Papworth, owners of the site, were sentenced after having previously admitted health and safety breaches.

Recorder Douglas Herbert said it was clear from the evidence that both companies had failed to put in place measures that are recognised standards in the industry to prevent accidents like this happening.

While he said he acknowledged both companies were 'long-standing family concerns' and said that he was not suggesting a lack of integrity, he said: 'Mr Howes has been very badly let down and the consequences will be with him for the rest of his life.'

He praised Mr Howes for his bravery in coming to court to hear again the details of the accident.

He ordered LF Papworth to pay a fine of £134,000 and costs of £6,484.45 and he ordered TW Page and Son to pay a fine of £80,400 and costs of £6596.05.

Earlier Eleanor Sanderson, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: 'There was an investigation by the HSE that revealed there was not a safe system of work at the site.'

She read out a long list from Mr Howes detailing his injuries which included a large area of his scalp being burnt off, extensive burns to most areas of his body, the loss of sensation in his hands, and deep vein thrombosis in his right leg.

He has spent six months in hospital, has had to have extensive skin grafting and two of his toes amputated.

'Prior to the accident I was an extremely fit and healthy man, now I walk very falteringly using two walking sticks...I also have regular falls,' she read from Mr Howes' statement.

Guilty pleas had previously been entered at Norwich Magistrates Court by TW Page and Son in relation to a charge of being an employer that failed to discharge its duty in that it exposed workers, including Mr Howes, to risks to their health and safety.

While at the same hearing, LF Papworth admitted a charge of failing to discharge its duty in that it failed to conduct their undertaking, namely the management of farm activities, in such a way as to ensure people were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

James Buchanan, representing TW Page and Son, yesterday said the company had a good safety record and had been devastated by what had happened.

'A method developed over years, decades...There was confidence in the method, plainly that confidence was misplaced,' he said.

Matthew Gowen, for LF Papworth, said: 'The company obviously accepts that there were things that could have been done by them that weren't.'

He said the company had been involved in farming in Norfolk for 90 years and was horrified at what had happened.

'They are very apologetic for what happened to him [Mr Howes] and the way in which their failings contributed to that incident on that day.'

The court heard both companies had taken remedial action following the accident.