Michael Compton, a parish councillor in Blunsdon, Swindon, has been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,840 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations SI 1998/2451.
Mr Compton had removed a gas boiler and installed a new one in Swindon despite the fact he was not registered with Gas Safe Register. The work was therefore illegal and left a householder at risk.
Swindon Magistrates' Court was told that Mr Compton told the householder that his colleague would sign-off the work and provide a guarantee. However, after the colleague refused to sign the guarantee, Mr Compton's failing came to light.
However, this was not the first time Mr Compton had been cautioned. He had previously been cautioned for carrying out illegal gas work and had signed a letter to say he would not carry out such work in the future.
Following the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Ian Whittles said, "Mr Compton's dangerous boiler work could have led to injury or even a fatality. He chose to disregard the previous caution, ignored his commitment not to take on further illegal gas work and then expected a colleague to sign-off his shoddy work." He added, "Anyone working with gas has to be registered as trained and competent to do so and be members of the Gas Safe Register by law. That way customers can be sure they are dealing with an engineer who is qualified to do the job."
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