A Perth electrician has received a criminal conviction and was sentenced by the District Court to 15 months’ imprisonment following indecent acts committed while working at a customer’s home.

The tribunal heard that the electrician was convicted of two indecent dealing offences involving a 13-year-old while he was at the child’s home to carry out electrical work. The WA safety regulator Building and Energy referred the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal, which cancelled the man’s electrical worker and electrical contractor licences.

“Our licensing system is about safety, both in terms of the electrical work carried out and the worker’s conduct,” WA’s director of energy safety Saj Abdoolakhan says.

“Electricians are invited into people’s homes, workplaces and other secure environments. The community should have confidence that a licence holder is trustworthy and does not have a criminal history that could compromise their personal safety.”

WA’s electrical licensing regulations require the holder of an electrical licence to be a “fit and proper person”, which includes consideration of past criminal convictions.