A father and son have been sentenced after illegal gas work in a Stoke-on-Trent home caused a dangerous leak, putting the lives of tenants, including a baby, at severe risk. Wayne Culliss was fined £3,000, while his son, Kazys Culliss, received a 12-month community order and 140 hours of unpaid work for their roles in the hazardous installation. The prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlighted a blatant disregard for gas safety regulations.
Boiler installation put’s family at risk
The incident unfolded after a tenant at a rental property in Hanley reported a hissing and leaking gas boiler on 1 December 2023. A British Gas engineer attended, deemed the boiler dangerous, and immediately took it out of use. The landlord then contacted Wayne Culliss, 55, who also managed the property, to arrange for a new boiler installation.
Wayne Culliss subsequently subcontracted this work to his then 18-year-old son, Kazys, despite Kazys lacking the necessary qualifications or registration with the Gas Safe Register to carry out such work. Kazys Culliss, now 21, proceeded with the illegal installation on 9 January 2024. The dangerous nature of this work became apparent just two weeks later when another British Gas engineer conducted a routine Gas Safety Check at the property.
During the inspection, the engineer detected the smell of gas and promptly isolated the supply. A subsequent gas tightness test confirmed a leak within the system, necessitating the capping off of the gas supply to ensure the safety of the occupants. The investigation by the HSE revealed that the dangerous work carried out by Kazys Culliss had directly jeopardised the lives of the tenants, who resided with a young baby. Gas leaks pose serious, potentially deadly consequences, including explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are clear: all individuals undertaking gas work must be registered with the Gas Safe Register and hold appropriate qualifications demonstrating their competency. Both Wayne and Kazys Culliss, of Boot Street in Whittington, pleaded guilty to offences under health and safety legislation.
At a hearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court on 21 July 2026, Kazys Culliss pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 140 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £500 in costs. His father, Wayne Culliss, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He received a fine of £3,000 and was ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.
HSE Inspector Rob Gidman commented on the case, stating that the work performed by Kazys Culliss, under his father’s direction, was reckless and exposed people to significant harm. He emphasised that gas work must only ever be carried out by Gas Safe Registered engineers, and the HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who disregard this fundamental safety requirement. Inspector Gidman urged anyone commissioning gas work in their home to always request to see the identification of the engineer and to verify their registration number online to ensure its validity. He highlighted that this simple check takes only minutes but is crucial for protecting individuals and their families.
The prosecution was led by HSE enforcement lawyer Samantha Tiger and paralegal officer Lynne Thomas, with support from HSE Visiting Officers Sarah Ough and Natalka Heath. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
This story was originally published by HSE Media Centre.
