Fake fitter who lied about registration left dangerous gas leak

A Birmingham handyman has been given suspended prison sentence after he left dangerous gas work and falsely claimed to be registered.

Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard that Jaroslaw Mazan had been hired by the landlord of a property in Birmingham. In November 2023, the tenant, who saw Mr Mazan installing a boiler, asked if he was registered, which Mr Mazan claimed he was. The tenant later checked on Gas Safe Register’s website but could not find him and alerted the Register.

Gas Safe inspectors found that his work had several defects, including a gas escape on the pipework (pictured), which was Immediately Dangerous. HSE then investigated and prosecuted him.

Jaroslaw Mazan, from Walsall, pleaded guilty to breaching the Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was given a 26-week suspended sentence and ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the tenant.

HSE inspector Harry Shaw said: “This dangerous boiler fitting was a disaster waiting to happen and the resultant gas leak could easily have caused a lethal explosion.

“The tenant did the right thing – and quite possibly saved themselves from serious harm – by checking the Gas Safe Register and alerting inspectors when they realised Jaroslaw Mazan was unregistered.”