Plumber's botched job wrecked bungalow

A plumber from Wolverhampton who removed a gas meter although he was not qualified to do so, was responsible for an explosion that left a man on fire and destroyed a house, a court heard.

Self-employed Peter Naylor, 61, removed the meter while trying to repair a water stopcock at a bungalow in Arnhem Road, Willenhall, last December.

The court heard that Naylor was not on the Gas Safe Register.

The resulting gas leak ignited and caused a blaze that left 66-year old resident John Davies with 21 per cent burns to his face, neck and hands.

Mr Davies had to rescue his nine-year old grand-daughter Amelia from a bedroom. She was unharmed but the bungalow had to be demolished later.

Naylor, of Frost Street, Ettingshall, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court yesterday to contravening health and safety regulations and was bailed pending sentencing next month at the city's crown court.

Nishi Kumar defending, said Naylor had told Mr Davies he was not qualified, but Mr Davies had said carry on.