A Rotherham man has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal gas work and putting a family with a young boy at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning or explosion.

Thomas Atkinson, from Wickersley, pretended to be officially registered with Gas Safe Register, showing the homeowner a false ID card before installing a gas fire, and then providing an invalid gas safety certificate.

Rotherham Magistrates heard the Herringthorpe resident developed suspicions about the certificate and contacted Gas Safe Register, which confirmed it was false and sent one of their regional team to investigate.

The Gas Safe regional investigations officer found seven defects with the gas fire installation work, including two that were classed as 'immediately dangerous'. The case was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted Mr Atkinson for five offences under the Gas Safety regulations.

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The court was told Mr Atkinson had installed a new gas fire on 12 May 2013 for the family in Herringthorpe but had to be chased for a gas safety certificate. When it did arrive, it was in the name of Mr Atkinson's former employer.

HSE found Mr Atkinson had been registered under the firm's name with Gas Safe, but had been removed in January 2012. He was not registered as a qualified gas engineer in his own name at the time of the fire installation – and never had been.

Two of the defects found with the work had the potential to cause carbon monoxide poisoning, a fire or explosion. A gas leak was traced to the inlet of the gas fire and gases produced on combustion were escaping from a part of the installation.

Thomas Atkinson, of Radley Avenue, Wickersley, Rotherham, was fined a total of £5,000 and ordered to pay £352 in costs after admitting breaching regulations 3(3), 3(7), 5(3), 7(3) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

(CD/JP)