Heating and Ventilating

A plumber from Lowestoft in Suffolk has been sentenced to six months in jail for carrying out illegal work on domestic gas appliances.
Appearing at Ipswich Crown Court on 1 February Paul Jowett admitted five breaches of gas and health and safety regulations.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Jowett worked on gas fittings and appliances at a number of addresses in the Lowestoft area between May 2009 and October 2010 without being registered. He falsely informed householders that he was registered and also used an invalid registration number on safety certificates that he issued.

In one instance, work by Mr Jowett at an Indian restaurant in Lowestoft was judged by a qualified engineer to be so dangerous that it posed “an immediate danger to life or property” and the premises had to close for two days. However, despite a written warning from HSE and being served a prohibition notice in April 2010, Mr Jowett had continued to work on gas appliances.

In court he admitted three charges of breaching Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, one offence under Regulation 3 (1) of the same regulations and a separate charge of breaching section 333 (1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.