A builder from Suffolk has been prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for safety failings after he carried out illegal and dangerous gas work at a house in Ipswich.

Anthony Kerry was hired to extend a kitchen at a house on Highfield Road in April 2013. While he was working there, he agreed to install new kitchen appliances including a gas hob even though he was not registered with Gas Safe Register or competent to do so.

On 8 July Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard that it was only when the homeowner challenged Mr Kerry on a number of issues with the work that it came to light that he was not Gas Safe Registered.

When a Gas Safe investigations officer inspected the work it was found that a nut on a gas valve had only been made finger-tight, resulting in a significant gas leak – the appliance was immediately made safe.

Mr Kerry was given a 16 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £922 after pleading guilty to one breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act and one breach of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.