A plumber has been prosecuted for the second time within four months for undertaking gas work while unregistered.

Matthew Congdon (33) was given a six month prison sentence suspended by 18 months after being found guilty of breaching Regulation 3(3) and 33(1)(c) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 33(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) previously prosecuted Mr Congdon in December 2014 for undertaking gas work while not registered, for falsely using the Gas Safe Register logo and for breaching an HSE Prohibition Notice. He was fined £5,000.

Two days before his first prosecution, Mr Congdon installed a gas boiler and therefore breached another HSE Prohibition Notice. The boiler was not fitted to the manufacturers instructions and had not been commissioned.

HSE Inspector Simon Jones said: "Mr Congdon showed utter contempt for public safety when he continued to undertake gaswork when he knew he should not.

"Previous gaswork by Mr Congdon had been found to be substandard and posed a danger to the public."

(LM)