Industry News


Gas fitter jailed over unsafe and illegal gas work


a dangerous condition, while he was unregistered. Manchester Crown Court heard that in


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November 2014, Richard Goldthorpe was served a Prohibition Notice by the Health & Safety Executive banning him from carrying out gas work unless he gained the necessary competence and registered with the Gas Safe Register. An investigation by the HSE subsequently found


that between 3 March 2018 and 22 March 2019, Goldthorpe undertook work on gas appliances at seven addresses across England. On one occasion, he used a false name. His unsafe work was even featured on the BBC’s Watchdog TV programme. Several defects were found on each gas appliance


worked on by Goldthorpe, including incomplete and defective flue joints, flues not sealed to building structures, and the dangerous decommissioning of a back boiler. All of the defects identified posed safety risks for the properties’ occupants. Richard Goldthorpe, of Irwin Road, St Helens


pleaded guilty to: • Seven separate offences under Section 3 (2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974;


• One offence under Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998;


• One offence under Regulation 3 (7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998; and


• One offence under Section 33(1) (g) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.


While on bail awaiting sentence, Goldthorpe undertook further gas work while he was unregistered and subsequently pleaded guilty to two additional offences; one under Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations


PICTURED WITH NOTES FROM GAS SAFE REGISTER: (1) Incorrect expanding foam seal around chimney/flue outlet. Potential to crush chimney/flue pipe. (2) Expanding foam seal observed at flue inlet joint. (3) No securing screws in chimney/flue joining coupling.


and one under Section 33(1) (g) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. After the hearing, HSE inspector Anthony Banks


commented: “Richard Goldthorpe knowingly defrauded homeowners and purposely misled them into thinking he was registered with Gas Safe Register. “Mr Goldthorpe had even been warned on


national television that he was breaking the law. The work he did was unsafe and he put several families


at risk. It is only a matter of chance that no one was seriously harmed. “All gas work must be done by registered


Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life. The public should always ask to see the gas engineer’s identification and check the registration number online (www.gassaferegister.co.uk) or ring the Gas Safe Register customer helpline 0800 408 5500.”


self-employed gas fitter has been jailed for 16 months after working on gas appliances in domestic properties and leaving them in


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Double trouble for rogue landlord


A rogue landlord who was originally jailed in February last year, has now been convicted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Siddarth Mahajan, of Milton Crescent, Ilford,


was last year sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for falsifying documents in an attempt to prevent enforcement action relating to houses in multiple occupation. He stood trial again at Snaresbrook Crown Court


in late February for a confiscation hearing where Barking and Dagenham Council recovered £30,000 from criminal conduct.


Mr Mahajan will receive a 12-month prison


sentence if there is a default on payment and he was given three months to pay. The judge also ordered Mahajan to pay a contribution towards the prosecution costs of £25,000 to be paid within nine months. Mr Mahajan falsely claimed that the property


had been in use as a HMO for more than 10 years and was therefore immune from enforcement action. He produced a number of documents to support this claim including several tenancy agreements, a letter from an estate agent and a


12 | HMM April/May 2020 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


sworn affidavit which appeared to show that the property had been a HMO as far back as 2008. Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member


for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “I hope this serves as a stark warning to disreputable landlords that we will continue to come after them for their money even if they have been previously prosecuted. “The council will not stand by and let


our residents live in cramped properties that are harmful to their wellbeing. We will use every legal measure at our disposal to ensure homes are of a decent standard, the integrity of the planning regime is maintained and dishonest landlords do not profit from the misery of their tenants.”


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