Accident Compensation UK

A plumber from Wolverhampton who caused a gas explosion and injured a pensioner has been given a 10-months suspended jail sentence for the personal injury and damage he caused.

Peter Naylor of Wednesfield, removed a gas meter in property in Arnham Road in order to access a leaking stopcock. 15 minutes after he left the house an explosion ripped through the house causing a fire.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting, told Wolverhampton court that householder John Davies, 66, had to rescue his nine-year-old granddaughter from a back bedroom. She was unhurt in the incident, but badly shaken. However, Mr Davies suffered 21 per cent burns to his face, neck and hands in the blaze. He spent six nights in hospital as a result of the personal injury and required a skin graft to his left arm and hand. His home has since been demolished as a result of the damage caused by the fire.

The HSE's investigation found Mr Naylor was not registered with the Gas Safe Register and had not isolated the gas system correctly.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Pamela Folsom said:

"This case is a warning to unregistered individuals that they should never undertake gas work under any circumstances.

"Anybody who carries out work on meters, boilers, hobs, ovens, fires or any other gas appliances without being on the Gas Safe Register is breaking the law.

"His incompetence caused an explosion that could easily have been fatal, and the resulting fire left Mr Davies with serious burns and a home so badly damaged that it had to be demolished."

"Gas work should only be undertaken by someone who is competent and qualified to do so, and that means they must be on the Gas Safe Register. Our research has shown that around 250,000 illegal gas jobs are undertaken each year."

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