David Liptrott, from Stonham, near Stowmarket, was hired to extend a kitchen and replace an LPG-fired boiler at a house in Charles Tye, near Ringshall, in August 2013. He undertook the work even though he was not registered with the Gas Safe Register 鈥� as the law requires 鈥� or competent to do so.
Bury St Edmunds Magistrates鈥� Court heard yesterday that when the contract for the work was agreed, Liptrott claimed to be trading as a limited company, DPB Building services.co.uk Ltd, when, in fact, this company had been dissolved in December 2012.
As a part of the building work, Liptrott removed the old boiler and fitted a new boiler assisted by his son. The homeowners became concerned by the poor standard of work and safety of the new boiler and raised complaints with Trading Standards officers as well as with Gas Safe Register.
The boiler was examined by an investigator from Gas Safe Register and found to be leaking gas. It was classified as 鈥渋mmediately dangerous鈥� and numerous other 鈥渁t risk鈥� faults were also recorded. Further investigations by HSE and Trading Standards found that in addition to the unsafe gas work there was evidence of unsafe and dangerous electrical work.
The court heard that in 2008, trading as D Liptrott & Sons, David Liptrott had also been the subject of a CORGI report and received a written warning from HSE for carrying out unregistered gas work at an address in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
David Liptrott, of Greem Lane, Stonham, Stowmarket, was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 15 months. He was ordered to pay his victims compensation of 拢27,490. If he fails to pay this order within 12 months he will be jailed for 15 months.
He was also ordered to pay 拢16,000 costs after being found guilty to two breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, one breach of the Health & Safety at Work Act and three breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
After the case, HSE inspector Anthony Brookes said: 鈥淗aving been previously warned about undertaking gas work when unregistered, David Liptrott should have known better than to accept a job he was not qualified, competent, or legally allowed to do.
鈥淧eople can die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions. It is therefore vital that only registered gas engineers, who are trained and competent, work on gas appliances and fittings.
鈥淭his prosecution shows the willingness of enforcement agencies to work together to bring unscrupulous traders that put safety at risk to justice.鈥�
Councillor Colin Spence, Suffolk County Council鈥檚 cabinet member for public protection, said: 鈥淭his case is a prime example of the great work that can be done when Suffolk Trading Standards and other agencies pool their expertise and resources. Together, they鈥檝e ensured this rogue trader has been brought to justice.
鈥淒avid Liptrott put the lives of a young Suffolk family at risk by carrying out his illegal work. I would encourage anyone needing work carried out on their property to go to www.checkatrade.com, the online directory of local tradesmen. All these traders have been checked by Suffolk County Council Trading Standards. I would also urge anyone that has had work carried out by David Liptrott to contact an engineer to have the work inspected, and ensure that their property and family are safe.鈥�
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