Licensee reveals carbon monoxide horror

A licensee who came close to death from carbon monoxide poisoning has urged publicans taking on a lease to take responsibility for gas checks.

Roland Jones became nauseous when deep cleaning the kitchen shortly after taking over the lease at the Butchers Arms in Greens Norton, Northamptonshire.

He took on the lease of the pub in December 2007 with his wife Sarah.

Investigations from a plumber revealed the boiler spilling carbon monoxide into the pub and that urgent repairs were needed.

The pub was closed and following further investigations Jones discovered the pub's gas certificate had been issued fraudulently.

It resulted in a court case and the plumber who has issued the certificate - 34-year-old Kevin Burdon of Brixworth - being jailed for 18 weeks.

The former licensee, Christine Dukes of Duston, Northamptonshire, was also fined £2,000 after admitting to providing a gas safety certificate which falsely stated a boiler and heater had been tested by a CORGI-registered engineer.

Jones said: "This has cost £17,000 in legal fees and between £15,000 and £18,000 in making the pub safe. It has been a nightmare situation for us over the last three years."

He added: "I would say to licensees do not rely on the people who are selling the lease to do the certification. It is the sellers responsibility but licensees should do it themselves and get them to pay."

The Jones' lease is with Enterprise Inns, but as it is a lease of more than seven years it is understood the responsibility for gas safety checks rests with the licensees.