Jail sentence for bouncy castle cheat (From York Press)

Jail sentence for bouncy castle cheat Peter McCormack

9:12am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Selby & Tadcaster

A FAKE play equipment inspector who repaired a bouncy castle so badly that children could trap their fingers and toes in its seams has been jailed for 62 weeks.

Peter McCormack, 77, of Chester, who also used other names, issued test certificates during his illegal checks of inflatable play equipment that included “inspections” at Abbey Leisure Centre, Selby, Selby Park and in Tadcaster, and missed defects that could have caused injuries to children, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

McCormack also known as Paul Armstrong, who has previously used the names Peter Coltilda and Peter John Morrell, was banned from carrying out the inspections by a prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive in 2008 because of his substandard work.

But on August 3, 2011, he “inspected” and badly repaired a bouncy castle at Selby Park and “inspected” a second bouncy castle at Tadcaster. On August 19, 2010, he “inspected” a bouncy castle at Abbey Leisure centre. HSE principal inspector Steven Flanagan said: “He has shown utter disregard for the safety of children and for the law and has cheated the companies he issued the certificates for, by taking their money when he shouldn’t have done the work.

“If people who carry out illicit or poor inspections of inflatables are not stopped, it’s only a matter of time before a child suffers a serious injury.”

McCormack pleaded guilty to eight health and safety breaches.