A father and son from Worcester have been prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) after endangering the life of a local pensioner by carrying out defective gas fitting work while building a conservatory at her home.
Christopher Amphlett, 65, and his son Mark, 37, trading as Worcester Windows, Doors and Conservatories, knew they had to manage the existing flue of the gas boiler before they began the conservatory at the property in Hillside Close, but failed to do so.

When they finished the building in December 2011 they illegally inserted a plastic pipe into the original flue and extended it through the conservatory roof of the ground floor maisonette.

Worcester Magistrates' Court heard yesterday (25 April) that the offence was only identified when British Gas visited the property three months later to conduct an annual check. A gas leak was detected from the flue in the conservatory and the boiler was immediately condemned.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the two men were aware that the flue they put in was defective but had made no attempt to rectify it. Neither of the men were on the Gas Safe Register.

Christopher Amphlet pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8 (1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work over 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £2,400 costs.

Mark Amphlett pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3 (3) and Regulation 8 (1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was also sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid community work over 12 months and ordered to pay £2,400 costs.