An unregistered gas fitter was sentenced after putting lives at risk by carrying out illegal gas work at several properties.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that from 2016 to 2017 the defendant advertised his ‘services’ on social media sites using false names, several telephone numbers, and at least three bank accounts to avoid being found out.
His illegal gas work put lives at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning, asphyxiation, fire and explosion, due to his poor workmanship.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the defendant had never been registered with Gas Safe Register and was not competent to carry out gas work.
The man pleaded guilty to breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations SI 1998/2451, was sentenced to a three year custodial sentence, and was disqualified from becoming the director of a company for 12 years.
HSE inspector Jonathon Wills said: “Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. The gas engineer’s competencies are clearly marked on the back of the engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. If in any doubt you can contact the Gas Safe Register or check their website to see if the engineer is registered”.
