An airline pilot who stole £12,500 of gas through an illegal connection at his home has been spared jail.
Mark Slater was told he could have endangered the lives of his family and neighbours by siphoning off the supply for more than three years at the property on Claverdon Close, Solihull.
The 50-year-old’s scam was only uncovered when British Gas officials visited the address last November. The commercial airline pilot was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months after admitting theft at Warwick Crown Court.
He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work and pay £185 costs.
Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: “This activity could have resulted in a terrible explosion.”
John Edwards, prosecuting, said the illegal connection had taken place in June 2006 after the property, which did not have a gas meter, had undergone a complete rebuild.
A plumber connected the gas pipe so he could test the central heating, which Slater continued to use when it was not disconnected.
Mr Edwards said British Gas officials acting on a tip off visited Slater’s house in November last year.
His wife “became distressed” and asked officials to leave when they asked to inspect the meter.
When they returned with police officers, they found Slater’s aircraft engineer son Darren in the garage tampering with the gas box.
Mr Edwards said the 24-year-old told officers he was “just putting the cover back on”, but there was a pungent smell of gas in the air.
Darren Slater, admitted causing criminal damage and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.
Judge Griffith-Jones said: “The greedy and dangerous practice Mark Slater has indulged in is very serious.
“When people steal gas and are outside the system of maintenance there is a greater danger, both to those who steal it and those who share the house with them, and to their neighbours.”
Robin Howatt, defending, for Slater, who has previous convictions for deception and damage, has arranged to repay the £12,500 to British Gas.
