Rogue Portsmouth plumber jailed for putting 'people at risk' by carrying out illegal gas works

Chris Broom
By Chris Broom
Published 2nd Dec 2022, 16:18 BST
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A ROGUE plumbing and heating engineer from Portsmouth has been jailed for 20 weeks after carrying out illegal gas work for a second time.

Peter Read, who traded as A.C.E Plumbing and Heating in Portsmouth, was contracted to install a new gas central heating boiler for a customer in January 2020.

Just days later the customer experienced problems with the boiler. On inspection by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register, the installation did not meet current standards. As a result further repair work was required by a Gas Safe Registered engineer to ensure that the installation was in a safe condition.

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An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Read was not competent to carry out gas work and not on the Gas Safe Register at the time he carried out this work. Read had previously been prosecuted by the HSE in April 2016 and had been found guilty of carrying out unregistered gas work. He was fully aware of his legal responsibilities when carrying out gas work.

Portsmouth Magistrates' Court Picture: Chris MoorhousePortsmouth Magistrates' Court Picture: Chris Moorhouse
Portsmouth Magistrates' Court Picture: Chris Moorhouse

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Appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates Court, Read of Seafield Road, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998 act and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. He was sentenced to 20 weeks behind bars on December 2.

HSE Inspector Karen Morris said: ‘Peter Read continued to carry out gas work while he was not competent to do so and while not Gas Safe Registered.

‘He has shown a blatant disregard for the law and continues to put people at risk despite previous enforcement against him by the HSE. His actions have not only caused considerable stress for the customers concerned but have also resulted in additional financial outlay required to put right his poor-quality work. I would like to take this opportunity to remind anyone who needs gas work doing to make sure they check that the engineer has the right skills and is registered with Gas Safe Register. This is very easy to do and by law, anyone working with gas must be listed on the register.’

Find out more about the Gas Safe Register go to gassaferegister.co.uk.