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PHW · Other · 2026-02-13

An unregistered gas fitter in Bournemouth sentenced after an unregistered tradesman left a dangerous gas installation

Bournemouth, Dorset · Bristol Magistrates' Court

What happened

An unregistered and untrained tradesman relocated a gas boiler and flue at a Bournemouth property. The homeowners had another gas engineer inspect the work, who deemed the boiler 'immediately dangerous' because the flue was not sealed or correctly positioned, creating a risk of carbon monoxide leaking into the property.

Injuries: No injury is reported in the release; the flue was not sealed or correctly positioned, so there was a risk of carbon monoxide leaking into the property.

The breach

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, Regulations 3(3), 27(1) and 27(5)

The sentence

  • Costs: £7,064
  • Other sentence: 10 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months, with a six-month electronic monitoring order restricting weekend movements; £3,907 compensation to the homeowner
HSE inspector

“Installers will be prosecuted if they carry out gas work without the proper qualifications.”

What would have prevented it

Only Gas Safe registered engineers are legally permitted to carry out gas installation work.

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Source: HSE press release, Man handed suspended sentence after illegal boiler replacement risks carbon monoxide leak