A Caerphilly man who installed dangerous stoves has been given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting a string of consumer protection charges.
Glyn Norman Mayne, 45, of Ogmore Court, Hendredenny, traded as ‘Nostalgia Home’ and was said to be a specialist in the fitting of solid fuel burning stoves.
Mayne claimed he was registered with the Heating Equipment Testing and Approved Scheme (HETAS), but was not. The scheme allows for the installation of solid fuel burners into domestic properties without the need for building control to certify the work.
A customer of Mayne complained to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards.
In total, ten customers came forward and their stoves were tested, with six being found unsafe by experts.
One customer had paid Mayne £2,700 for an appliance that never materialised.
At Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, July 20, Mayne was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was told to pay compensation totalling £4,950 to eight customers.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100 and to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
His Honour Judge Fitton QC labelled Mayne’s work as “shoddy” and “dangerous” but said it was down to incompetence rather than a deliberate cutting of corners.
I have no idea whether or not the installer convicted was competent or not but my own experience indictates that there is often a matter of interpretation when such regulations are considered by installers or inspectors.
Ten years ago I asked several installers to submit a quote for the instalation of a multi fuel stove at my home. One of these companies informed me that the current level of ventilation was inadequate and added a fairly hefty charge for cutting a hole in my wall to bring the installation into compliance; as they saw it.
The next quote from another installer, which was around £1,000 cheaper, said that the existing vent was perfectly adequate. This was the company I engaged to do the work and in the last ten years I have had no problem at all with my stove. Both companies are HETAS registered.