The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New date for trial of Fife man on charges over stove fitting
Sheriff court told matter is ‘fairly complex’
The trial of a Fife businessman on charges which include putting the occupants of an Angus house at risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning because of a badly fitted stove has been delayed.
Justin Jackson faces charges under consumer protection legislation relating to alleged incidents at two properties between June and August last year.
The 47-year-old, of Whinpark Place, Newburgh, is charged with knowingly or recklessly engaging in a practice which contravened professional diligence while fitting a stove at a property in Edzell between June 18 and July 28 2016.
Jackson is accused of failing to provide a carbon-monoxide detection system and also of putting the occupants at risk of poisoning by failing to secure the joint where a flexible flue liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also charged with fitting flue pipes and a liner with a diameter less than that of the stove outlet, failing to install an air vent or provide adequate air gaps around the stove, and failing to provide a label or other indelibly marked sign with information required to alert future workmen to the specification of the installed system.
The complaint also alleges that, being a trader at the time, on August 25, at a house in Arbroath and elsewhere, he made a misleading statement on his website that Stove Safe was located in Perth, knowing that was false.
He is also accused of making a further misleading claim on his website that services were provided by “a team of HETAS qualified installers with over 15 years’ experience”, knowing that claim to be false. Jackson has denied all the charges. Trial was scheduled for January 26, but the case has now been rescheduled to a new trial date on February 19.
Defence solicitor Brian Bell told Forfar Sheriff Court: “The matter, especially charge one, is fairly complex.
“There have been discussions and I understand there is no opposition to a defence motion to discharge the trial diet.
“A large amount of productions have been provided by the Crown, and hopefully progress can be made in respect of significant areas of evidence which can be agreed.”
A fresh intermediate diet in the case was set for January 23, with Jackson scheduled to face trial on February 19.
The accused was ordained to appear by Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.
The matter, especially charge one, is fairly complex. DEFENCE SOLICITOR BRIAN BELL