A Christchurch builder has been sentenced for unlicensed and unsafe asbestos removal.

Richard John Knight carried out an asbestos demotion job at a Riccarton building in February 2017.

Although he had experience in construction and demolition he was not licensed to remove asbestos.

He failed to decontaminate equipment, or wear appropriate protective equipment, and allowed other people to enter the house unprotected.

Judge Gary MacGaskill took into account his early guilty plea and the fact he is bankrupt, and fined him three thousand dollars.