- Unqualified gas work led to three potentially dangerous gas leaks at family home.
- Property left without heating or hot water for six weeks.
- Man sentenced to 200 hours’ unpaid work and £2,000 costs.
A man has been sentenced after his illegal gas work put the lives of an Ulverston family at risk.
Lee Lancaster, 38, installed a gas combi boiler and gas pipework at a family home in in February 2024. After completing the work, one of the occupiers smelled gas near their meter box. They contacted Cadent, who identified three different gas leaks. As a result, the gas supply to the house was shut off for six weeks, leaving the family of four without heating or hot water.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was alerted to the incident by Gas Safe following their inspection, which classified the work carried out as Immediately Dangerous. A subsequent investigation by HSE discovered that Mr Lancaster did not hold any qualifications in relation to gas work and was not competent to undertake such work safely. It also identified that he was not on the Gas Safe Register; the official list of gas engineers who are qualified to work legally on gas installations.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require those undertaking gas work to be Gas Safe registered and to hold the relevant qualifications to demonstrate their competence.
Members of the public are reminded that all gas work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Anyone can check whether an engineer is registered by visiting www.gassaferegister.co.uk or calling 0800 408 5500.
Carrying out gas work without registration is illegal and potentially dangerous, as unqualified work can lead to gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Lee Lancaster, of New Market Street, Ulverston, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order where he must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £2,000 costs at a hearing at Barrow-in-Furness Magistrates’ Court on 23 January 2026.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Matthew Shepherd said:
“The risks from uncontrolled gas leaks are well known and can be fatal.
“Mr Lancaster knew he was unqualified and not Gas Safe registered yet still took on this work, putting a family in very real danger.
“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone undertaking gas work where they are not competent or registered to do so.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and paralegal officer Lynne Thomas.
Further information:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
- More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
- Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
- Relevant guidance can be found here: www.gassaferegister.co.uk
- HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.