A GAS fitter who unlawfully continued to work on gas appliances after allowing his CORGI registration to lapse was given a 12 month conditional discharge by magistrates.

Robert Hargreaves, 46, of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, admitted contravening health and safety regulations by working on two gas fires and a gas cooker between September and December last year, despite not being registered with the national industry watchdog body.

Hargreaves, who was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive, was ordered to pay £671.34 in costs when he appeared at Reedley magistrates court yesterday.

Alan Meyer, prosecuting, told the court Hargreaves had been a member of the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) but allowed his registration to lapse in March, 1997, by not paying his annual registration fee.

Mr Meyer said Hargreaves installed a gas fire at a house in Coal Clough Lane. Soon after, the householder noticed discolouring appear on the marble surround. Eventually, another engineer was called and he found the flue was defective. He issued a warning and contacted the HSE. Hargreaves also worked on a gas fire at a neighbouring house in Coal Clough Lane and on a gas cooker at a house in Burnley Road, Weir.

"It is questionable whether Mr Hargreaves was competent to carry out this work," said Mr Meyer.

Dylan Bradshaw, in mitigation, said his client had more than 30 years experience in the industry and could not be described as a 'cowboy' or inexperienced amateur.

Hargreaves and his partner ran a business called Northern Builders and Plumbers, which was operating on a financial 'knife edge,' said Mr Bradshaw. "This defendant, unfortunately and perhaps foolishly, decided he could not afford the CORGI registration," he added.

Mr Bradshaw said there were already problems with the gas equipment before Hargreaves was asked to intervene. He pointed out Hargreaves and his partner had complied fully with a prohibition notice banning them from working on gas installations since the incidents.

"This will be his first blemish in 30 years of working life," added Mr Bradshaw.

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