A gas fitter left a boiler he had serviced in a potentially unsafe condition, Exeter magistrates heard.

The court was also told Mike Burridge Gas Services Ltd had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in Nov 2010 in relation to a similar offence involving a gas fire.

All three offences followed an annual service of gas appliances at a domestic property in Axminster.

The company was fined a total of £15,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 prosecution costs.

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The three breaches related to work on a fitting without immediately examining the supply of combustion air afterwards, failing to examine the effectiveness of the flue after servicing the boiler and failing to check the safe operation of the boiler after performing work on it.

HSE Inspector, Simon Jones, said: "This prosecution should send an important message to gas fitters that they must undertake work safely to ensure the safety of members of the public. It is important that registered gas fitters undertake work to the highest safety standard."

Mike Burridge Gas Services Ltd, of Beer Road, Seaton pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 26 (9) (b) of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 and was fined £5,000.

The company was found guilty of breaching Regulation 26 (9) (a) and 26 (9) (d) of the same regulations and was fined a further £5,000 on each charge.

(CD)