A Rochdale man has been sentenced after he put lives at risk by illegally carrying out gas work at three homes in the borough.

Paul Gregory was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after he left a newly installed gas hob in a condition classified as 'immediately dangerous' at one house on Holmes Street in Rochdale.

Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Gregory had installed a new boiler and gas hob at the property during a four-month period last year, despite not being a registered gas fitter.

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Shortly after the installation had been completed, the owner of the house contacted National Grid to get the gas meter changed from a pay-as-you-go to a conventional meter.

While at the property, a National Grid engineer spotted several problems with the gas work carried out by Mr Gregory and found the gas hob to be in a dangerous condition. He immediately capped off the supply to the hob.

The court was told Mr Gregory had also carried out gas safety checks for a landlord at properties on Garden Street in Milnrow and Hendriff Place in Rochdale on 21 March 2011.

He used a fake Gas Safe Register number when completing the formal documents on the checks, giving the impression they met strict legal requirements.

Paul Gregory, of Hollin Lane in Middleton, pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He received a community order requiring him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and was ordered to pay £2,279 in prosecution costs.

(CD)