An illegal gas fitter has been prosecuted for endangering lives at a property in Surrey with shoddy and unsafe work.

Michael Gill, 66, installed a new gas boiler and flue at a house in Kingsmead Park, Elstead, on 5 March 2008, both of which were left in a dangerous condition.

Guildford Magistrates' Court heard that he falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer approved by the Health and Safety Executive to carry out gas work.

He continued to operate with bogus CORGI accreditation and returned to the same property on four separate occasions between 5 March 2009 and 22 June 2011 to annually service the boiler. During this time he should have been registered with the Gas Safe Register, which replaced CORGI as the watchdog for gas safety on 1 April 2009.

-- Advertisement --

Gas Safe Register inspected the boiler and found a number of defects with Mr Gill's installation. Three of these were classed as 'immediately dangerous', four were designated 'at risk' and six were deemed as 'not to current standards'. As a result the gas supply was turned off until the boiler and flue were made safe, and the matter was passed to HSE.

Mr Gill, of Beech Hanger Road, Grayshott, pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 for his work and for operating illegally. He was fined £600 and ordered to pay £385 in costs. He attended court having been arrested for failing to show at an earlier hearing on 30 April.

(CD/GK)