A Plymouth-based plumber has been sentenced for arranging fraudulent gas safety checks at numerous landlords' properties between February 2013 and May 2015.

Gary Lynch, 36, of Fletemoor Road, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison for each offence suspended for 18 months with £2,000 in costs.

Plymouth Crown Court heard Mr Lynch arranged for Neil Walker to undertake gas safety checks at a landlords' tenanted properties on 14 separate occasions, despite Mr Walker not being a registered gas engineer.

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The gas safety records produced used a false Gas Safe Register registration number and a fictitious address for Neil Walker.

Mr Lynch claimed to have met Mr Walker in a pub and instructed him to undertake the checks for him, as the agent for the landlords. However, Mr Lynch did not check whether Mr Walker was legally registered to undertake such work.

One gas boiler Mr Walker passed as safe was found to be 'Immediately Dangerous' and was potentially leaking poisonous carbon monoxide into the property.

The tenants, who had been suffering from headaches and dizziness, contracted Wales and West Utilities who isolated the gas supply to the boiler and contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

During HSE's investigation, Mr Lynch was unable to provide any information or contract details for Mr Walker.

Previously, he had been warned in 2014 about undertaking gaswork whilst not registered.

HSE Inspector Simon Jones said: "Gary Lynch's negligence could have cost lives. All landlord's gas safety checks must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life. Mr Lynch knew this but carried on instructing an unregistered man and put the lives of tenants at serious risk from deadly carbon monoxide poisoning."

(LM/MH)