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Gas fitter jailed over OAP deaths Fitter's term 'not long enough'
(about 2 hours later)
A gas fitter who was found guilty of manslaughter after two pensioners died of carbon monoxide poisoning has been jailed for three years. The son of a man who died from carbon monoxide poisoning has said the three year jail term handed to the gas fitter responsible as "not long enough".
Peter Tongue, 60, from Llansypyddid, near Brecon in Powys was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court. Margaret Eileen Powell, 72, and Thomas Gwyn Morgan, 74, were found dead at Mrs Powell's home in Brecon, Powys.
Margaret Powell, 72, who was known as Eileen, and her friend Thomas Gwyn Morgan, 74, were found dead at Mrs Powell's home in Brecon, Powys. Peter Tongue, 60, of Llanspyddid, near Brecon, Powys, was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court after being convicted of their manslaughter earlier this month.
A trial earlier this month heard he had not fixed a heating system properly. Outside court, Mr Powell's son Jeremy condemned the sentence.
Jeremy Morgan, 41, said: "I am not looking for revenge. But three years for two lives? Of course it's not enough."
The two pensioners were found dead slumped on the sofa at Mrs Powell's home in Brecon in December 2006.
"The sentences passed today in this case are not at all intended to be a reflection of the value of any life, no sentence, however severe, could do that Judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones
Mr Morgan, a friend from Port Talbot, had been visiting Mrs Powell at the time.
Self-employed gas engineer Tongue had called to service her gas boiler 12 days before and had inadvertently left it in a lethal condition.
A Cardiff Crown Court jury heard previously that despite being a Corgi-accredited engineer, Tongue's registration for that type of boiler had lapsed three years before.
Tongue was also convicted of six offences under the Health and Safety Act in relation to work carried out at the homes of other people.
Passing sentence, the judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told Tongue his work had been "lamentably inadequate, falling so far below the competence expected of a gas engineer as to be grossly negligent".
Thomas Gwyn Morgan and Margaret Powell were found dead in her home
He said Tongue's actions had caused the tragic and avoidable deaths of two people.
After the father-of-three was taken away, the judge spoke publicly to the families of both victims.
"I realise that you have been devastated by this appalling tragedy and that these prolonged proceedings have been a further ordeal for you," he said.
"The sentences passed today in this case are not at all intended to be a reflection of the value of any life, no sentence, however severe, could do that."
He added: "But it may be that the conclusion of this trial will bring a measure of closure."
Accreditation
After the sentence, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a warning that anyone working on gas appliances and systems without having their competence assessed are acting illegally and dangerously.
HSE inspector Hugh Emment said: "This tragic case demonstrates why it is essential that gas engineers only work on appliances where their competence has been assessed and that they are on the Gas Safe Register.
"Peter Tongue worked on Mrs Powell's gas central heating system but his accreditation to work on that particular system had lapsed three years previously.
"As a result, his knowledge of the system was not up to date."