Serial gas offender prosecuted for endangering lives

Date:

24 March 2010

Release No:

YH/121/10

A serial gas offender from West Yorkshire who put lives at risk by carrying out illegal gas installations has been handed a suspended jail sentence for his crimes.

Ryan Thorpe, 24, from Ashdene Grove, Pontefract, faces 8 months imprisonment - suspended for two years - if he fails to mend his ways after pleading guilty to eight separate breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Pontefract Magistrates Court yesterday (23 March). He was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

The prosecution follows an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) relating to work carried out at two addresses in Goole in July, August and September 2009.

Magistrates heard that in July 2009 Mr Thorpe, who was not Gas Safe registered, illegally removed and fitted a new boiler at a home in Centenary Way, Goole, East Yorkshire. This work was classified as a potential risk to life or property.

On the 26th August 2009, Mr Thorpe went on to remove and then install another gas appliance at a home in Parliament Street, Goole. During this job he failed to seal the joint on a pipe from the gas meter correctly, causing a gas leak which was so serious that the gas supply had to be shut off.

When called back to the address on 2 September 2009, he illegally reinstated the supply.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Andrew Denison said:

"Ryan Thorpe put a number of his clients' lives at risk by illegally carrying out gas work. In one such case his work led to a gas leak, which could have had devastating consequences.

"Mr Thorpe blatantly disregarded the law by carrying out work without a valid Gas Safe registration and the appropriate competencies.

"The law clearly states that anyone carrying out gas work must be appropriately qualified and accredited. HSE will not hesitate to take action against anyone found to be carrying out this work illegally and endangering lives."

Notes to editors

1. Gas engineers undertaking gas work must be registered with a body approved by HSE. The body currently approved is 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. Ryan Thorpe pleaded guilty to three breaches of Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which 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."
4. Ryan Thorpe pleaded guilty to three breaches of Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which 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".
5. Ryan Thorpe pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulation 26(5) (a) which 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."

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