Illegal gas work risked young family’s lives

A father and son have been prosecuted after their illegal gas work in Stoke-on-Trent risked the lives of householders including a young baby.

Wrexham Magistrates Court heard that Wayne Culliss, 55, had sub-contracted boiler replacement work to his then 18-year-old son Kazys, despite the fact that neither were or ever had been qualified or Gas Safe registered.

The HSE prosecuted after its investigation found that a British Gas engineer had attended a rental property in Hanley on 1 December 2023, after the tenant said the boiler was hissing and leaking cold water. The boiler was found to be dangerous and taken out of use, prompting the landlord to contact Wayne Culliss. Wayne Culliss was a landlord himself, who also helped with the management of the property and he arranged for a new boiler to be installed.

Wayne Culliss sub-contracted the job to his son, Kazys, who carried out the illegal work on 9 January 2024. When another British Gas engineer inspected the boiler two weeks later as part of a gas safety check, he could smell gas and immediately isolated the supply. After carrying out a tightness test, he found a leak and capped the supply. 

Kazys Culliss of Boot Street, Whittington, pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work plus £500 in costs.

Wayne Culliss, also of Boot Street, Whittington, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.

HSE inspector Rob Gidman said: “The work carried out by Kazys Culliss, under the instruction of his father, Wayne, was reckless and put people at risk of serious harm.”