Two plumbers have been prosecuted and found guilty for carrying out illegal work, and for claiming to be CIPHE registered.

Morgan's Gas Safe registration had expired in 2006 and permitted him to work only for a previous employer, Stafford Magistrates Court was told.

Morgan ignored a letter from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in 2008, which instructed him to become properly trained and registered, after being found carrying out unregistered work in 2007. Morgan was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,900 costs after pleading guilty to the breach of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998.

In a separate case in London, Craig Smith from Dartford, trading as Tigerflow Contracts, pleaded guilty to seven charges of unauthorised displaying of trust marks, in his case the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE) logo.

He was fined £2,800 at Bromley Magistrates Court and ordered to pay £900 costs.

Only members of the CIPHE are allowed to display the Institute's distinctive logo. Unauthorised use of trust marks contravenes Regulation 12 of the Consumer Protection for Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 act, which is designed to protect consumers from traders who falsely claim to be members of professional bodies.

Lesley Challis, membership secretary of the CIPHE: "We are delighted with the outcome of this case. Members of the public know they can trust a CIPHE registered installer and recognise the logo as a sign of their competency and professionalism. We will always prosecute any non member who illegally uses our logo to safeguard the public and the reputation of the Institute."