Unregistered fitter sentenced after leaving gas escape at Cheshire home

An illegal gas fitter who falsely claimed to be Gas Safe registered has been given a suspended prison sentence after carrying out unsafe work that caused a gas escape at a home in Cheshire.

Scott Anthony Williams, of Congleton, carried out gas work at two properties in Cheshire between 2021 and 2023. One of the jobs resulted in a gas escape that left the householder without a working gas appliance for some time.

HSE, prosecuting, was alerted to his work by Gas Safe Register following its inspection at one of the properties. The inspection identified At Risk work on the installation. Further investigations found that Mr Williams had also carried out work at another property and that he had issued a Gas Safety Certificate using a false registration number.

Williams pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates’ Court to seven breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring 240 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £2,000 plus a victim surcharge of £144.