TWO council workers renovated a Bolton home as a "foreigner" and then used stolen electrical quality certificates to verify the quality of their work, a court was told.

Building surveyor Harry Jackson and environmental health worker Michael Auty arranged for the two electricians to re-wire a house in Park Street, Bolton.

Though employed by the council, the electricians -- Gordon Clough and Colin Cooper -- worked on the house, owned by Jackson, as a "foreigner".

But, at the end of the work, Jackson allegedly told the men he would not pay them unless they provided a special certificate covering the quality of electrical work.

Neither men were members of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors (NIC), which issued the certificates.

Instead, Cooper stole a batch of six NIC certificates he used in his official work for Bolton Council and issued them for re-wiring work on five flats at the Park Road house and for work at a house in Tennis Street, Bolton.

Jackson then submitted the certificates to Bolton Council in support of a £7,100 grant for the electrical work. Jackson, aged 51, of Redcar Road, Little Lever, and 49-year-old Auty, of Inverlael Avenue, Heaton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court.

Jackson faces seven charges, including using a false instrument, namely an electrical installation certificate, which he knew to be false and making false and reckless statements during the course of a business.

The prosecution said that Auty acted like a foreman for Jackson, organising Cooper and Clough and he also did some work himself. Auty allegedly knew the certificates were stolen when they were issued.

Auty faces two charges of using a false instrument and handling stolen goods. Both men denied all the charges. Clough and Cooper have already been prosecuted.

Prosecutor Adrian Farrow said that the four men all worked for Bolton Council and that all four behaved unlawfully.

The certificates at the heart of the trial are issued to members of the scheme, such as electrical contractors, companies, councils and mortgage lenders to show a certain standard of work has been achieved.

(Proceeding)