An Accrington man who falsely claimed he was a registered gas engineer has been sent to prison for two years for endangering people's lives at two properties in Lancashire, including a baby boy.

Stephen Jonathan was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for committing a total of six offences, after his work was classified as being 'immediately dangerous'.

Burnley Crown Court heard the 35-year-old's actions had put residents at risk of being killed or seriously injured in a gas explosion or from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The court was told Mr Jonathan falsely claimed he was a registered gas engineer when he installed a new boiler at a community nurse's home on Willows Lane in Accrington on 22 October 2010. Geoff Street regularly looked after his sister's baby in his house, without knowing the boiler was operating dangerously.


An engineer was sent to repair the boiler after it was reported to the manufacturer as being faulty. He classified the installation as being 'immediately dangerous', and disconnected it from the gas supply straight away.

Mr Jonathan's work was reported to Gas Safe Register, which holds the official list of legal and safe gas engineers, and HSE, which carried out an investigation. It found that he had also installed central heating at a house on Avondale Road in Lancaster during November and December 2010.

He had again claimed to be a registered gas engineer, and the installation of the boiler had again been classified as being 'immediately dangerous'.

Stephen Jonathan, of Collins Drive, Baxenden, admitted putting lives at risk, and of carrying out gas work while falsely claiming to be a registered gas engineer. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison at Burnley Crown Court on 20 October 2011.

Geoff Street, 52, spent £1,700 on making the boiler safe at his house on Willows Lane in Accrington.

He said: "It's shocking that Stephen Jonathan didn't have any consideration for my life or anyone else's. I was looking after my sister's baby in the house without knowing both our lives were being put in danger by the boiler he installed.

"He appeared quite professional when I first met him. But he refused to come back when I told him the boiler kept switching itself off, and I eventually found out it was actually dangerous.

"I'd advise people to check the Gas Safe website or ring the helpline before agreeing to gas work being carried out. There are some people out there just out to make a fast buck, with no regard for health and safety."

(CD)