A rogue Wigan plumber has admitted presenting fake endorsements to his customers and carrying out unregistered gas work. Rhys Lavin, branded an ‘unscrupulous trader’ by council chiefs – falsely claimed that his Hindley firm Phet Ltd was Gas Safe-registered and NICEIC-approved on the YELL.COM website.
Rhys Jordan Lavin, of Wigan Road, Hindley, who traded as PHET Ltd, carried out work at a gas pipe at a home on two separate occasions when he was not Gas Safe Registered.
During the investigation council trading standards officers contacted the Health and Safety Executive Head Office. This led to him carrying out further gas work as he was issued with a prohibition notice. The notice prevents him from carrying our any gas work in the future.
Cllr Carl Sweeney, cabinet member for environment at the council, says: “This was a very serious case and could have resulted in a serious gas explosion risking the life of the resident. Our trading standards team work hard to support and protect residents from rogue traders, and will where necessary, take action through the courts. Comments were made to officers during the investigation by Rhys Jordan Lavin, including: ‘A pipe… is a pipe’ and ‘Shoulda woulda coulda’ showed a complete disregard for the seriousness of his actions, when he knowingly carrying out unqualified gas repairs.”
Lavin was given an eight month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. He must pay court costs of £1900 and a compensation order of £229. The defendant also needs to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation requirement with the probation service and has been disqualified as a director for five years.
Julie Middlehurst, Service Manager for regulatory services at Wigan Council, says: “Our trading standards team work hard to support and protect residents from unscrupulous traders and will where necessary, take action through the courts. “Wigan Council’s Good Trader Scheme has around 200 reputable local businesses and we would encourage residents to use this scheme if considering having work done to their property.”
Lavin was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court.
