Engineer faked employer’s details on kebab shop certificate

A gas engineer who faked the registration details on a gas safety certificate for a takeaway business has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Exeter Crown Court heard that, on 16 March 2019, Peter Strudwick carried out a commercial gas safety check at a kebab takeaway business in Bitten Road, Teignmouth. He was working illegally and used his employer’s Gas Safe registration number on the paperwork. His employer, a major commercial gas catering company, was unaware of his work.

Concerns had been raised when an officer from Teignbridge District Council attended the takeaway regarding gas safety issues and found irregularities. The takeaway was issued with an Improvement Order. Subsequent visits by qualified and registered gas engineers found numerous concerns with the appliances, including gas escapes, which were classified as Immediately Dangerous.

The HSE, investigating, found that Mr Strudwick had been Gas Safe registered some years previously but was not currently registered or competent to carry out the gas safety check at the takeaway and did not have his own registration number. He used the gas registration number belonging to his employer on the paperwork.

Peter Strudwick of Palk Close, Shaldon, Teignmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as amended and Section 33(1(l) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison for each offence, suspended for 12 months.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Simon Jones said: “Mr Strudwick undertook a gas safety check which he knew he was not registered to do. He falsely used his employer’s Gas Safe Register details to deceive people into believing his work was legitimate.”