A ROGUE trader who lied that he was a certified stove installer and left customers with dangerous appliances emitting lethal gas has been spared jail.

Daniel Park, 26, of Langmead Square, Crewkerne, pleaded guilty to 15 separate allegations spanning a period of 18 months.

He admitted that between July 3, 2017 and April 2, 2018 in Somerset, being a trader, he knowingly or recklessly engaged in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

On February 15, Taunton Crown Court heard Park claimed he was approved by HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing Approvals Scheme) and used another trader's website as his own.

Prosecuting Alec Small said Park claimed all legal documents and told customers they would get paperwork after appliances were fitted - but it never arrived.

One customer, Sharon Evans, paid Park more than £1,750 to install a woodburner in July 2017.

Mrs Evans, who was caring for her sick husband and her autistic son, was sent a video of a fire lit, and told her the certificate would arrive in three weeks’ time.

However, days later another heating engineer told her the flue “did not look quite right” and when it was lit thick black smoke poured out of the fire and a carbon monoxide alarm went off.

Another customer, Richard Hill, also paid Park £681 to install a log burner at his home in Chard in September 2017.

Mr Hill said he was shown HETAS certificates but Park made excuses for missing appointments. Mr Hill called HETAS only to be told Park was not registered.

Park, representing himself in court, said “I would like to say that I am deeply remorseful for my actions and for the distress it caused to other people.

“I feel ashamed of what I have done and I am very sorry for my actions.”

When sentencing Park, Recorder Jonathon Barnes said: “These are serious offences in which you behaved dishonestly.

“I feel deeply sorry for the victims of your crimes and deeply sorry that they cannot be compensated as they should be."

Recorder Barnes sentenced Park to four months in jail suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.