A 35-year-old self-employed worker from London has been given two suspended jail terms for falsely claiming to be Gas Safe Registered.

At the Old Bailey the court heard how Winters signed Gas Safe certificates for a number of properties. This was only discovered after a gas leak was reported by National Grid at a rented property.

Brian Winters of Hertford Road, Edmonton was found guilty of four charges of regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safe Installation and Use Regulations 1998 and was given an 18 month suspended sentence for two years for the property where a gas leak occurred and 12 months suspended for two years for the three other charges. He was also given two community orders.

Health and Safety Executive Inspector Monica Babb said after the hearing: “Gas Safe registered engineers are regulated and have to ensure they can prove they are competent. This safe guard is removed when people choose not to register, putting people at risk in their homes.

“It is important that anybody who has gas work carried out checks their engineer is carrying a valid gas safe registered identification card. They should also check online or call Gas Safe Register to confirm they are competent to carry out the work ”

For further information on Gas Safety www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/and guidance at
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk