A ROGUE trader has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds to a homeowner who was left with a 'dangerous' boiler and faulty plumbing following work from his company.

Saeed Sajjad Qureshi, of Romsey Road, Reading, was brought before the courts this month after his company Gas Spec was found to have carried out the 'substandard' work.

An investigation by the local Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Response Team found the firm had carried out a bathroom refurbishment for a homeowner in Wokingham between September 16 and September 30, 2019.

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Findings revealed the works left the homeowner with water leaking from the upstairs bathroom coming through to the downstairs kitchen the day after works were complete.

The PPP also said Gas Safe later found the gas supply was 'at risk' because the pressure was too low.

As a result the gas supply was turned off and the boiler marked as 'dangerous'.

Qureshi pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court on January 8 to the offence of being a trader knowingly or recklessly engaged in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence, namely service of a gas boiler and bathroom replacement. 

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He was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the victim.

Anyone wishing to report trading standards, environmental health and licensing matters can contact the PPP team on 01635 503242

*Article clarification - An earlier version of this article has been retracted by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) due to inaccuracies. This article has since been updated to reflect the changes made by the PPP.