A South Cumbrian man’s illegal gas work put the lives of a family at risk.
Lee Lancaster, 38, of New Market, Ulverston, installed a gas combi boiler and gas pipework at a family home in the town in February 2024.
After completing the work, one of the occupiers smelled gas near their meter box.
They contacted Cadent, which identified three different gas leaks.
As a result, the gas supply to the house was shut off for six weeks, leaving the family of four without heating or hot water.
The Health and Safety Executive was alerted to the incident by Gas Safe following their inspection, which classified the work carried out as immediately dangerous.
A subsequent investigation by HSE discovered that Lancaster did not hold any qualifications in relation to gas work and was not competent to undertake such work safely.
It also identified that he was not on the Gas Safe Register; the official list of gas engineers who are qualified to work legally on gas installations.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require those undertaking gas work to be Gas Safe registered and to hold the relevant qualifications to demonstrate their competence.
Members of the public are reminded that all gas work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Carrying out gas work without registration is illegal and potentially dangerous, as unqualified work can lead to gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Lancaster pleaded guilty to breaching the regulations of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations Act 1998.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order where he must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £2,000 costs at a hearing at Barrow Magistrates’ Court on January 23.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Matthew Shepherd said: “The risks from uncontrolled gas leaks are well known and can be fatal.
“Mr Lancaster knew he was unqualified and not Gas Safe registered yet still took on this work, putting a family in very real danger.
“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone undertaking gas work where they are not competent or registered to do so.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and paralegal officer Lynne Thomas.
