Man caused gas explosion at Govan flats after girlfriend dumped him

A man sparked a large explosion at his flat after his lover dumped him.

Brian Reid had tampered with a gas pipe at his flat in Glasgow's Govan in March this year.

The 27 year-old earlier confessed to partner Emma Fitzsimmons that he had cheated on her.

Reid insisted he was distraught and wanted to “kill” himself. Leaking gas was then lit causing the blast.

A total of 10 flats were evacuated and more than 20 residents – included families – were forced out of their homes around 7am.

One of Reid's neighbours had been thrown across a room due to the force of the explosion.

Reid himself ended up badly burned and spent more than a week in hospital.

He was today convicted of culpably and recklessly endangering the lives of others.

A charge of attempting to murder Emma, 30, was found not proven following the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Reid was remanded in custody pending sentencing in the New Year.

The trial heard the couple had been having issues before the incident.

Emma had come to Reid's flat as he wanted to “tell her about something”.

Reid said: “I had cheated on her when we were going through a bad patch. This was a week or two before.

“I had to tell her as I wanted the relationship to work. She would have found out in the long run.”

Reid recalled his lover was “furious” and insisted they were “over”.

Reid told the court he was feeling low and then wanted to take his own life.

He said: “I was thinking that I had lost everything.”

The couple argued before Emma eventually fell asleep at the flat.

The court heard Reid went into a cupboard and started tampering with a gas meter before disconnecting a pipe.

The escaping gas was then lit sparking the explosion.

A stunned Emma was awoken by the loud bang, smashing glass and an alarm.

She recalled being “very frightened” and rushed to dial 999.

Asked about Reid, the mum recalled: “He was burnt on his face and hands.”

It was Emma who bravely put out the fire before emergency crews arrived.

The court heard claims Reid had told Emma: “You are not going to get out. You are gassed – that's it. I am blowing us up”.

But, he insisted in evidence: “Why would I say that to her? It was my girlfriend who I love.”

Prosecutor Bill McVicar: “You must have known that the consequences from your efforts to take your own life would not just be limited to what happened to you?”

Reid: “I was not thinking about everyone in the close. When I think about it now, it is something that I regret.”

Lady Stacey adjourned the case for reports.

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