A builder has been jailed for 12 months for illegally carrying out sub-standard gas work at a lone pensioner's home in Bedfordshire.

Luton Crown Court heard that between 21 January and 30 June 2010, Patrick Regan carried out internal building work, including gas work and other building works affecting gas appliances, at a 65 year-old woman's house on Luton Road, Dunstable, despite not being registered with Gas Safe.

Mr Regan, of Loud Water, High Wycombe, was sentenced today after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified serious safety failings.

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During the building work, he removed a chimney breast in the lounge but left the still connected and unstable gas fire flue liner lying across the floor and routed into a floor void.

The gas meter had also been disturbed when the wall it was fixed to was removed, which caused a gas leak; and gas fitting work in the kitchen included the installation of a five-metre length of gas supply pipework running directly across a doorway with only one clip supporting it.

The house was left with appliances in an 'immediately dangerous' condition, but they weren't disconnected until 5 October (2010) when a Gas Safe engineer visited the property. This was more than three months after Mr Regan had finished.

The householder, who does not wish to be named, was left with an estimated repair bill for heating and plumbing in the region of £5,000.

Patrick Regan, of Abbey Barn Lane, Loudwater, High Wycombe, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of single breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.

(CD/JP)