A London man has received £5,000 in compensation after cutting himself while shaving with a faulty razor.
Nick Silverthorn, 48, purchased a £2.50 Wilkinson Sword Men Advance 3 razor from a Sainsbury’s store in Richmond during the Christmas holidays. However, when he began shaving on Boxing Day, he experienced severe cuts that left him “bleeding badly.”
Describing the incident, Mr. Silverthorn said: “I was on autopilot, shaving as usual, when I noticed blood streaming down my face from both cheeks. These cuts were far worse than anything I’d experienced before.”
The landscape gardener, who has been shaving for decades, revealed that the incident triggered traumatic memories of past surgeries and left him suffering from nightmares. “I kept seeing blood on my face in my dreams. It was a tough time,” he added.
Upon inspecting the razor, Mr. Silverthorn discovered one of the blades was detached. The injuries took weeks to heal and left scars, prompting him to take legal action against Wilkinson Sword.
He preserved the razor, its box, and the receipt, documenting the injuries with photographs. With the help of Express Solicitors, a product liability specialist, he pursued the case. After testing the product, Wilkinson Sword agreed to a £5,000 settlement.
Mr. Silverthorn explained his decision to sue: “This wasn’t a normal shaving cut—it sliced my skin deeply and bled for over 20 minutes. I wanted to protect others from experiencing the same issue. It was a matter of principle, and I’m glad I stood up to a big company and won.”
Jack Evans, the solicitor who handled the case, praised Mr. Silverthorn’s actions: “Most people wouldn’t think to challenge a major razor company over a shaving cut. But Nick kept the evidence and secured justice. This case proves that anyone injured by a faulty product may have a valid claim, no matter how large the manufacturer.”
