Man jailed for 5 years for causing Govan gas explosion

A spurned man who sparked a huge blast at his flat after his lover dumped him has been jailed for more than five years.

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

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

Reid claimed to be distraught when 30 year-old Emma ended the relationship.

Jurors heard how leaking gas was then lit causing the explosion.

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

It was several months before one neighbour could move back in due to the damage caused.

Reid was today locked up for five years and three months at the High Court in Glasgow.

He had earlier been convicted of culpably and recklessly endangering the lives of others.

Lady Stacey told Reid: “You put your girlfriend at risk of her life or at least serious injury.

“You caused similar risk to other people in the flats and, indeed, anyone else that was passing.

“It is fortunate no one lost their lives.”

Reid – who had been cleared of attempting to murder Emma – will also be supervised for a further three years on his release.

A trial heard how 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 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, 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 the mum: “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.”

Emma suffered cuts from shards of broken glass. Reid himself spent more than a week in hospital.

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