Man Serving Four-year Fraud Conviction Found Guilty Of Working As An Unlicensed Plumber

• Bryan Martin sentenced for falsely advertising and working as a plumber
• Sentenced under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006
• Discharged without a fine
• Martin is currently serving a four-year sentence for mortgage fraud

Bryan Martin was sentenced in the Manukau District Court last week on charges of unlawfully completing sanitary plumbing work and falsely advertising himself as a plumber. Mr Martin has never held an authorisation to practise sanitary plumbing in New Zealand.

In March 2021 a homeowner saw Mr Martin’s services advertised on Facebook Marketplace and contacted him regarding a bathroom and laundry renovation on their Glenfield, Auckland property.

The renovations included plumbing work to remove existing showers and installation of new toilets, which required installing and altering the water and waste pipework. Mr Martin provided quotes to the homeowner and began work on the property.

Over the following months the homeowner noticed that the work completed by Mr Martin was not up to standard. Issues included holes in the walls; blocked toilets; a faulty LED mirror in the bathroom; incomplete work and power cutting out on the washing machines. Mr Martin did not complete the work or remediate any of those issues.

In August 2021 the homeowner called a plumbing company to inspect the work. The company noted a number of serious concerns about the plumbing work by Mr Martin and provided the homeowner with a report setting these out. The homeowner paid another company $3,864 for the remedial work.

The homeowner made a complaint to the Board in February 2022. An assessment by a Board technical advisor found fifteen compliance issues.

Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board Chief Executive Aleyna Hall says the health and safety issues identified with Mr Martin’s work could have seriously risked the homeowner and their property.

“There was a risk of scalding from un-tempered water, and multiple points where water and waste can leak causing excess moisture and unsanitary conditions. The plumbing work was done to such a poor standard that it would not function, which could have caused a loss of use of sanitary fixtures and appliances.”

“These issues could have harmed the homeowners and their property.”

“In the past two months, four people have been sentenced in New Zealand for unauthorised work. It’s a win for our industry to hold those people that are working unlawfully to account.”

“Check the public register to see if your plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer is licensed to do the work.”

When deciding the sentence for Mr Martin last week, Judge Webby considered that Mr Martin’s ability to pay a fine was not realistic as he is currently

serving a four year sentence for mortgage fraud

. Mr Martin was convicted and discharged.

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