A Solihull man has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for carrying out gas work at an elderly widow's home without being registered to do so.

David Jonathon Jackson, of Winward Way, Smiths Wood, claimed to be CORGI registered when he installed a gas fire and a gas water heater in the pensioner's lounge and kitchen between 1 March and 30 April 2008.

Nuneaton Magistrates' Court heard Mr Jackson submitted a quote and an invoice with a false CORGI registration number. Engineers undertaking gas installation and maintenance work must be registered with the industry body. At the time of the incident this was CORGI. The approved body is now Gas Safe Register.

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The widow, who is in her seventies and lives alone in North Warwickshire, subsequently raised concerns about the quality of his work and HSE carried out a joint investigation with the Gas Safe Register.

Mr Jackson pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £400 and ordered to pay £500 costs.

HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove said: "It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out any work on gas appliances. Although Mr Jackson knew this, he went ahead with the job and even gave the householder paperwork with a false registration number to convince her that he was properly qualified.

"Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Poorly-installed gas work can cause explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal and can also cause serious long-term health problems."

(CD/GK)