The former owner of a Shropshire building firm has been prosecuted for carrying out illegal and dangerous gas work at two West Midlands homes.
Jonathan Taylor, 44, from Broseley, was prosecuted at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 April 2015 by HSE after an investigation established that he carried out gas work on two separate occasions without being a member of the Gas Safe Register, as the law requires.
The court was told that he was registered with the Gas Safe Register between October 2009 and October 2010, but had subsequently allowed his registration to lapse. He knew a current registration was a legal requirement, but opted to undertake the gas work regardless.
Jonathan Taylor, of Owen Terrace, Duke Street, Broseley, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as an unregistered gas fitter – two counts of regulation 3(1), two counts of regulation 3(3) and single count of regulation (3(2).
He was given a four month sentence for the five charges (to run concurrently), suspended for 12 months and 150 hours committee service. He was also ordered to pay £6,296.35 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector David Kivlin said: “Those who undertake gas work must be on the Gas Safe Register, and anyone who works on gas appliances without being registered is working illegally.
“Mr Taylor had previously been a member of the Gas Safe Register but his membership had lapsed and he was no longer registered. This case highlights the need for householders to check the credentials of anyone working at their property.”
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