An unregistered plumber has been sentenced for carrying out illegal work.

An unregistered plumber has been fined for carrying out illegal work on gas boilers.


Anthony Grove of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, pleaded guilty to exposing his customers to risks at Southend Magistrates' Court.


An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that between May and September, 2009, Grove had replaced old boilers at two properties after giving the owners false CORGI (now Gas Safe) registration details. 


Both customers complained about his work to Gas Safe who alerted HSE. Grove's work had been carried out incorrectly and in one case, the new installation was "immediately dangerous". 


Grove admitted breaching Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safe Regulations 1998 and Section 3 (2) of the Health & Safety at work act 1974. He was fined £850 and ordered to pay £500 in costs. 


HSE inspector, Steve Hook, said: "When unqualified workers try to bypass the law in this way, they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk."