Orrey Robert Wilson fined $40k for Logan dodgy sparky jobs

A dodgy South East Queensland electrician has been hit with a whopping fine for unsafely installing air conditioners across the region without a proper licence, a court has heard.

Orrey Robert Wilson outside Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

A dodgy Logan sparky operating without an official licence has been fined $40,000 in court for unsafe practices after he installed air conditioners in five locations across the area.

Orrey Robert Wilson, 34, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on February 7 to one count of conducting an undertaking without holding an electrical licence and five counts of failing to comply with health and safety duties and exposing an individual to risk of death, serious illness or injury.

The court heard the Gold Coast man unsafely installed air conditioners from December 13, 2019 to May 27, 2020 in Bethania, Crestmead, Acacia Ridge, Slacks Creek and Inala.

Health and safety prosecutor Ms Dawes told the court Wilson was the holder of an Australian Refrigeration Council licence, which allowed him to install air conditioners but he needed a trained electrician alongside him for any electrical work.

Mr Wilson advertised his work to customers on Facebook and Humm Finance.

In December, 2019 Electrical Safety received a complaint from a customer and started an investigation.

Ms Dawes said the work was below standard and she argued a fine in the range of $100,000 to $125,000 was appropriate.

Mr Wilson’s defence Rob Martin said his client regretted his actions and had taken full responsibility.

“He was a small, independent business not a corporation,” he said.

“Mr Wilson has learnt his lesson.”

Magistrate Mark Howden said it was an unusual case but Mr Wilson needed to be punished.

“You overstepped the mark and went too far, you went beyond your licence,” he said.

Mr Wilson was fined $40,000 for all five charges and was ordered to pay costs of $1500.

No conviction was recorded.