A kitchen fitter has been fined £5,000 after leaving a gas pipe at a customers home in a dangerous state.

Matthew Heath of Tremadden Kitchens was also ordered to pay £483 in costs after he removed a kitchen hob in Torquay but failed to cap the remaining gas pipe.

The pipe had the potential to fill the property with gas.

A gas engineer was called by the owner to finish the job and raised the alarm.

Mr Heath had turned off the gas supply using the emergency control at the meter. However, the supply could have been accidentally turned on at any time.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Heath's company displayed the Gas Safe Register logo although neither he nor business were registered.

A Gas Safe Register inspector examined Mr Heath’s work and classified it as "Immediately Dangerous".

Mr Heath pleaded guilty to three breaches of gas safety regulations.

HSE Inspector Simon Jones said: “Mr Heath put his customer’s life at risk by carrying out work on gas pipes which he was not legally entitled to do. He also deceived customers by claiming his company was registered with Gas Safe.

"All domestic gas work must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life."

(LM/CD)