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Jail for dangerous gas fitter who used fake IDs A fake gas fitter whose dangerous work put lives at risk in the North-east of England has been sent to prison for three years. Dean Blues from County Durham advertised his services on various social media sites from September 2016 to December 2017, using false names, several telephone numbers and at least three bank accounts to evade detection, Newcastle Crown Court heard. HSE, prosecuting, said his poor and illegal workmanship had put lives at risk in seven homes, exposing residents to
the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, asphyxiation, fire and explosion. The homes, in Houghton le Spring, Washington, Blaydon on Tyne, South Shields, Hebburn, Spennymoor and Middlesbrough, contained a catalogue of problems. In one home, the pipework sleeve from the gas meter box was not sealed correctly, the flue assembly had not been sealed internally or externally to the structure of the building, the appliance’s combustion chamber was missing a retaining screw and another was partially tightened, which meant that a
Products of combustion were spilling into home A Newcastle construction company director has been given a suspended prison sentence after his work on a home extension left the gas boiler venting products of combustion inside. Newcastle upon Tyne Magistrates’ Court heard that a mother and her two children suffered from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning during building work in April 2018 at their home in Lichfield Avenue. HSE, prosecuting, said David Coulson, from Newcastle upon Tyne, had left the boiler in use during the building work even though the supporting wall to which it was secured had been removed and the extension built around it. The boiler was perched on top of a breeze block with the flue venting inside so that products of combustion were entering the home. The family and their dog all showed symptoms of CO poisoning, and the children were given oxygen at hospital. The homeowner raised her concerns with Mr Coulson as she could see fumes spilling into the property but he denied that this was the case. Mr Coulson, director of Coulson Constructions North East Ltd, arranged for the boiler
proper seal was not formed. In another, there was a gas escape and its flue fell apart when poked. Several other homes had experienced gas escapes and contained work that was Immediately Dangerous. Mr Blues had never been Gas Safe registered and was not competent to work on gas. HSE had been investigating him in Scotland previously. Dean Mulholland Blues of Annand Way, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty to 24 breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to three years in
prison and was disqualified from being the director of a company for 12 years. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jonathan Wills said: “If anyone has had any gas work carried out by Mr Blues, I urge them to ensure that the work is now checked by a registered Gas Safe engineer as soon as possible.”
To report illegal gas work please call 0800 408 5577 or go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/reportillegal
Fitter ignored Prohibition Notice not to work on gas
to be moved and the flue routed to outside but this was not carried out by a registered gas engineer. A Gas Safe Register investigations officer found that the installation was At Risk even after the boiler had been moved. David Coulson of Gofton Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 and Section 20 (2)(j) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, told to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £5,200. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Wilson said: “Construction work can and must be planned properly to ensure the health and safety of those potentially affected throughout the building project.”
A Dorset gas fitter has been given a three-year community supervision order for carrying out gas work illegally, breaching a Prohibition Notice, and using expired Gas Safe Register credentials. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Dean Coslett, trading as Dorset Boiler Company, fitted gas boilers in a number of properties in Dorset between December 2017 and April 2019 while he was not registered. Mr Coslett did not fit the boilers in line with the manufacturers’ instructions and left flues incorrectly fitted and unsupported. He used his expired Gas Safe registration details on paperwork, says HSE. In September 2018, HSE had served Mr Coslett with a Prohibition Notice banning him from undertaking gas work while he was not registered. However, he breached this Prohibition Notice and continued to work on gas. Dean Coslett of Sevenoaks
Drive, Bournemouth, had been registered in his own right previously and as an engineer for a registered business. Mr Coslett pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974. He was sentenced to a three-year community supervision order, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of offender rehabilitation work. He was also ordered to pay £900 compensation to a number of homeowners for the sub-standard work he carried out in their homes. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Simon Jones said: “Dean Coslett undertook gas work, which he knew he was not registered to do and flagrantly breached an order prohibiting him from undertaking gas work whilst he was not registered.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 09
