A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to a total of 30 months in jail suspended for two years after he pretended to be Gas Safe Registered.
Brian Winters, of Byron Court, Cheshunt, was found guilty of four charges of regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safe Installation and Use Regulations 1998.
The court at the Old Bailey heard how Winters signed Gas Safe certificates for a number of properties, despite not being registered.
This was only discovered after a gas leak was reported by National Grid at a rented property.
Mr Winters was given an 18 month suspended sentence for two years for the property where a gas leak occurred and 12 months suspended for two years for the three other charges. He was also given two community orders.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Monica Babb said after the hearing: “Gas Safe registered engineers are regulated and have to ensure they can prove they are competent. This safe guard is removed when people choose not to register, putting people at risk in their homes.
“It is important that anybody who has gas work carried out checks their engineer is carrying a valid gas safe registered identification card. They should also check online or call Gas Safe Register to confirm they are competent to carry out the work ”
Visit the Gas Safety Register for more information.
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I fail to understand how this sentence will act as a deterrent for others. Can’t think of a more deliberate and potentially serious h&s offence.