Suspended prison sentences for Torbay brothers’ poor gaswork

Suspended prison sentences for Torbay brothers’ poor gaswork

An unregistered gas fitter and his brother illegally installed a gas boiler and left it in a dangerous condition.

Lee Butterworth, 43, who trades as English Riviera Building Company Ltd, contracted his brother Scott Butterworth, aged 41, to carry out the work at a house at Crabtree Close, Plymouth.

The pair were prosecuted at Torquay Magistrates on Friday 21 August 2015 following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The court heard that Lee Butterworth was carrying out extensive works on the house which included installing a new gas boiler. Lee Butterworth arranged for his brother, Scott Butterworth, to install the gas boiler and gas pipework despite him not being a member of Gas Safe Register.

After Scott Butterworth had fitted the gas boiler the homeowner then had a properly registered member of Gas Safe Register at his home to fit a gas cooker. That gas engineer found a gas leak on the gas pipework that Scott Butterworth had installed and classed what he found as ‘Immediately Dangerous’ as there was a real risk of a gas explosion.

Lee Butterworth, of Oxley Close, Torquay, pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 2 years and also ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid community work and ordered to pay costs of £496.60.

Scott Butterworth of Marine Drive, Paignton, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 2 years for each offence, to run concurrently, and also ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid community work and ordered to pay costs of £496.60.