Illegal gas fitter fined and sentenced
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A self-employed Middleton man was fined for carrying out gas work while not being registered with Gas Safe Register.
Paul Gregory of Hollin Lane, Middleton, Manchester installed a boiler at a property in Trent Road, Shaw, Oldham between 8 July and 19 August 2014.
Manchester Crown Court, (Minshull Street) heard on 22 September 2015 that Gregory carried out this work illegally by undertaking gas work whilst not being registered with Gas Safe Register.
A Prohibition Notice (PN) had been served on Gregory on 14 November 2011 following an investigation which prohibited him from undertaking any work on gas fittings until he is registered with Gas Safe Register. By carrying out the work at Trent Road he also breached the prohibitions placed on him. Manchester Crown Court heard Gregory was prosecuted for the same offences in 2012.
Paul Gregory at was given two nine month suspended sentences for 12 months, 250 hours unpaid community work, and a curfew requirement from 7pm to 6am for 4 months, after pleading guilty Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was also ordered to pay £1800 in compensation to the homeowner and contribute £1200 to prosecution costs.
HSE Inspector Lisa Bailey who investigated the case, said: “Paul Gregory was well aware of the requirement to be Gas Safe registered, in fact he had been previously prosecuted by HSE for the same offences in 2012 and had been given a PN preventing him from carrying out gas work until he was registered with Gas Safe Register. By ignoring this he potentially put lives at risk”
Further information about gas safety can be found online atwww.hse.gov.uk/gas
