A GAS engineer who charged a housewife £52.88 to examine her faulty boiler now faces a court bill of more than £1,600.

Alan Forrest, who trades as First Call Plumbing and Gas Services, was yesterday prosecuted by Sunderland City Council's trading standards department for breaching consumer protection regulations.

Durham Crown Court was told of an advert placed by First Call in the Thomson local directory pledging: "No job too small, no call-out charge". It heard Forrest and a colleague were called to inspect a faulty combi-boiler at the home of Denise Hall, in Eglington Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, in September.

Mrs Hall told the court Forrest spent only about eight minutes at her home. He looked at the boiler and told her it would cost £1,173 to replace. She told him she would discuss it with her husband, but when Forrest left, he charged her £52.88, including VAT, which she paid.

Mrs Hall contacted the trading standards department.

Forrest claimed he examined the boiler, carried out tests and made a small repair to a gas valve, spending about one hour and ten minutes at the house.

He denied giving a misleading statement, but the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

Forrest, of Bishopgate Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, was fined £350, ordered to meet the £1,200 court costs and first of all pay back the £52.88 to Mrs Hall.