A man from Congleton has been sentenced for carrying out illegal and unsafe gas work at two homes in Cheshire over a two-year period.
Scott Anthony Williams, of Galbraith Close, was prosecuted after performing gas installations between 2021 and 2023 without being registered or qualified to do so. One of the installations caused a gas leak, and another left a homeowner without a working appliance for an extended time.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began after the Gas Safe Register flagged concerns following an inspection at one of the properties. The inspection found that the installation was “at risk” and that Williams had falsely issued a Gas Safety Certificate using a fake registration number.
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, only engineers listed on the Gas Safe Register are legally permitted to carry out gas work in the UK. It is an offence to claim to be registered without the proper qualifications.
At Chester Magistrates’ Court on 24 October 2025, Williams pleaded guilty to seven separate breaches of the regulations. He was given a 12-month community order requiring 240 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £2,000 in costs, and a £144 victim surcharge.
HSE inspector Nicola Willcox commented: “This was a deliberate breach of gas safety legislation that put people at risk.
“All gas work must be undertaken by Gas Safe registered engineers. The public should always ask to see the gas engineer’s identification and check the registration number online to ensure it is valid.”
