Rogue trader prosecuted for gas safety crimes

Date:

26 February 2010

Release No:

YH/074/10

A gas fitter from West Yorkshire who put lives at risk by carrying out illegal work was today (26 February) handed a suspended jail sentence and community service for his crimes.

Brian Lloyd, aged 57, of Dewsbury Road, Ossett, faces 17 weeks imprisonment if he fails to mend his ways, after pleading guilty to eight breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Wakefield Magistrates Court. He was also sentenced to 150 community service and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

The case, brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), related to work carried out at three homes in Osset and Wakefield in May and June 2009.

While under investigation by the Gas Safe Register, Mr Lloyd was featured on BBC One's Rogue Traders, broadcast in September 2009. He was filmed undercover carrying out gas work illegally and falsely claiming to be Gas Safe registered.

Magistrates heard that Mr Lloyd's gas competencies expired in January 2009 and he was removed from the Gas Safe Register, an approved list of certified gas engineers.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Andrew Denison said:

"By carrying our work without a valid Gas Safe registration and the appropriate competencies, Brian Lloyd deceived customers, but more importantly potentially put lives at risk.

"We urge homeowners to be on guard and make sure that all gas fitters are registered and safe to work in their home. With the recent cold weather, we realise that members of the public may not be as vigilant in checking these details as they try to keep warm."

Notes to editors

1. Gas engineers undertaking gas work must be registered with a body approved by HSE. The body currently approved is the Gas Safe Register. For more information or to check registered gas engineers in your area go to www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
2. Further information on gas safety can be found at HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm
3. Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states: "No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so." There were two separate breaches of this regulation.
4. Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states: "no employer shall allow any of his employees to carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or service pipework and no self-employed person shall carry out any such work, unless the employer or self-employed person, as the case may be, is a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by the Health and Safety Executive". There were three separate breaches of this regulation.
5. Regulation 3 (7) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) regulations 1998 states: "no person shall falsely pretend to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved under the Health and Safety Executive." There was a single breach of this regulation.
6. Regulation 26(5) (a) states: "no person carrying out the installation of a gas appliance shall leave it connected to the gas supply unless - the appliance can be used safely." There were two separate breaches of this regulation.

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