Landlord fined after family's gas poisoning (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Landlord fined after family's gas poisoning

10:43am Monday 16th July 2007

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A neglectful landlord, whose faulty boiler led to the carbon monoxide poisoning of a Tooting family, has been fined £3,000.

Thomas Hooper, 49, of Seaford in Sussex, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court on Friday to charges of failing to maintain his boiler in a safe condition and not organising proper safety checks on gas fittings at the flat he rented out.

The court heard how the Qureshi family, who lived just above Mr Hooper's Trinity Crescent flat, were struck down by headaches and vomiting on the evening of February 26 and had to be helped from their home by ambulance staff.

Nineteen-year-old Jumina Qureshi told the court in a statement how she began suffering crippling headaches and dizziness during her prayers. She then described how her 16-year-old brother collapsed after inhaling the poisonous carbon monoxide fumes.

"I heard my mother trying to speak to my brother. She was constantly saying his name and saying things like Zaid look at me' and What's wrong with you'," she said.

"I was trying to get up to see what the problem was but I could not muster the strength as I was too weak," she added.

The family were hospitalised along with four other residents who had been in the building at the time of the leak.

They later tested positive for carbon monoxide poisoning and experts estimate they may have had between 30 and 40 per cent carbon monoxide in their blood when they were evacuated. Comas can be brought on by levels of 50 to 60 per cent.

Prosecuting, Health and Safety Inspector Andrew Witters said the consequences would have been worse if the residents of Mr Hooper's flat had been in at the time or if it had taken place later at night.

"If people had been asleep, we might not be talking about victims, we might be talking about fatalities," he said.

The court heard the gas boiler had not been serviced by a registered workman for 20 years.

Mr Hooper was ordered to pay a total of £1,400 compensation to the building's residents and £1,525 costs as well as the fines.

After the sentencing, Mr Witters said: "Keeping gas appliances in a safe condition by having a competent person maintain them is not hard to arrange.

"Landlords need to realise that they can potentially face charges of manslaughter if they fail in their duties and someone is killed as a result."

Speaking after the trial Mr Hooper said: "I recognise I was foolish and regret not recognising the dangers of these boilers. It serves as a salutary warning to all, whether people in their own homes, occupiers or landlords." p>

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