A Berkshire-based roofer has been fined after carrying out asbestos removal work without a licence.

Michael Wilkie (trading as Royal County Roofing), of Ploughlands, Bracknell, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5(1)(a), 11(1) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

He was fined £660 with £1,023 in costs.

Reading Magistrates' Court heard Mr Wilkie was contracted to by a householder to replace the covering of the flat roof of the garage adjoining their house, and subsequent remedial work, between 21 March and 16 April 2015.


The work included the installation of a drainpipe through the ceiling below, which comprised of asbestos insulation boards (AIB).

Mr Wilkie cut a hole in the ceiling for the pipe, leaving debris containing asbestos in a waste bag for the householder to dispose of.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Wilkie had no experience or knowledge of working with asbestos containing materials and had failed to take suitable measures to prevent potential exposure to asbestos fibres.

HSE inspector Dominic Goacher said: "Contractors have a duty to ensure all work they undertake is properly planned and takes into account onsite risks such as asbestos containing materials."

(LM)