Man jailed over suicide bid to blow up his flat
A MAN tried to blow up his flat in an attempt on his own life after setting fire to an airing cupboard and leaving the gas on.
Jason Kripalani, 46, committed arson at his Caerphilly flat on September 27 last which resulted in a block of flats in Snowden Court, Mornington Meadows, being evacuated and neighbours treated for carbon monoxide inhalation.
The fire brigade were called to the address in the early hours of the morning after occupants of the flat were woken by the smoke alarm and the smell of chemicals.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Kripalani was found in the flat in a poor state of health and required medical attention.
According to police, neighbours said the defendant had been acting “erratically” for a number of weeks and had asked someone, “How many people would I take out if I left my gas on?”
It was also said he had been drinking heavily.
He was arrested and admitted the offences to police, saying he had started the fire because he “wanted to kill himself”.
The court heard the fire brigade found a burnt out microwave in the flat and ascertained the fire had started in the airing cupboard.
Kripalani later pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
In mitigation, barrister Paul Hewitt said his client had been suffering with severe depression for some time.
He added: “His aim was not to hurt anyone else but to hurt himself but setting fire in a block of flats is a reckless act and thankfully no one was seriously hurt.”
Mr Hewitt said Kripalani had been acting as a carer for his elderly father, and both of his parents had suffered since the defendant’s remand in custody.
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: “I am satisfied that the reason you set fire to the flat was a desperate attempt to end your own life.
“That was an extraordinarily selfish way of going about it.
“Others were endangered and as a result of what you did by leaving the gas running others were hurt by inhaling carbon monoxide.
“That could have led to unpleasant consequences and if the fire had continued and spread others’ lives would have been in danger.”
Kripalani was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
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