Man faces court over gas work which 'risked lives'

A man has faced court after putting "people's lives at risk" by installing gas appliances without the necessary registration, a safety watchdog has said.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said Mehmet Kalyoncu, 57, of Stadium Avenue, Blackpool, had "installed various gas appliances and pipework" at an address in the town before concerns were raised about the work.

The Gas Safe Register found Kalyoncu was not registered with them and that the work had been left in an "unsafe state", before referring him to the HSE, the executive said.

He was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence at Preston Crown Court and ordered to pay a total of £756 in costs and surcharges.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching regulations 3(3) and 6(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, and one count of failing to comply with a prohibition notice as per section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The HSE said its investigation found Kalyoncu had already been served with a prohibition notice preventing him from doing any gas work without being Gas Safe Registered.

HSE principal inspector Caroline Shorrock said: “Mehmet Kalyoncu showed a complete disregard to the safety of the public."

She added: “He carried out unsafe gas work that put people at risk."

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