An 81-year-old plumber has been prosecuted for carrying out illegal work on gas boilers in Norwich.
Frank Davey, of New Costessey, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court to breaching health and safety laws.
Magistrates imposed a three month jail sentence on Davey, suspended for two years, and also banned him from working with electricity or gas for two years.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Davey carried out gas work and fitted new gas boilers at three houses in Norwich, between 1 April and 30 November 2009.
Davey was not registered with the Gas Safe Register, a legal requirement for anyone carrying out such work. An inspection at each of the properties revealed his work was defective and dangerous. At one address a gas leak was discovered and had to be made safe.
Davey admitted breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
After the sentencing, HSE inspector Anthony Brookes, said: "It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unqualified workers try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.
"Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it.
"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law in this way."
Sign up to our FREE email newsletters or subscribe to our RSS feed for regular updates on the latest construction news, construction tenders, construction data, and construction law.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
