Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a gas engineer has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service for putting tenants at risk in rented homes in Chelmsford.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that James Wilkinson was Gas Safe- registered for some types of gas appliances, but had been carrying out work for which he was not competent.

He was contracted to work on gas warm air units at five rented homes. However, he did not hold the required qualification to undertake the work. He twice left one of the gas installations in an immediately dangerous condition. He left a gas leak following a repair and then failed to service the warm air unit correctly, leaving the tenants exposed to carbon monoxide. They were only alerted to the danger by their carbon monoxide alarm.

Mr Wilkinson pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was sentenced to 120 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of £2,527 and a victim surcharge of £60.