Jailed, jilted lover who sparked gas blast in f lats

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, 27, had tampered with a gas pipe at his flat after earlier confessing to partner Emma Fitzsimmons he had cheated on her.

Reid claimed he was distraught when the 30-year-old ended the relationship. Jurors heard that escaping gas was lit, causing the explosion.

Ten flats were evacuated and more than 20 residents, including families, were forced out. Because of the damage, it was several months before one neighbour could move back.

Yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow, Reid was sentenced to five years and three months.

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. It is fortunate no one lost their lives.’

Reid, who had been cleared of attempting to murder Miss Fitzsimmons, will be supervised for a further three years on his release. The trial heard that Miss Fitzsimmons had gone to his flat in Glasgow’s Govan last March as he wanted to ‘tell her about something’.

Reid said: ‘I had cheated on her when we were going through a bad patch. I had to tell her.’

He recalled she was ‘furious’ and insisted they were ‘over’.

Reid told the court he wanted to take his own life. He said: ‘I was thinking I had lost everything.’

The couple argued before Miss Fitzsimmons eventually fell asleep at the flat. The court heard Reid tampered with the gas meter before disconnecting a pipe. The escaping gas was then lit, sparking the explosion.

Miss Fitzsimmons was awoken by the loud bang, smashing glass and an alarm. She recalled being ‘very frightened’ and rushed to dial 999.

Asked about Reid, she recalled: ‘He was burnt on his face and hands.’

She then put out the fire before emergency crews arrived.

The court heard claims Reid had told Miss Fitzsimmons: ‘You are not going to get out. You are gassed – that’s it. I am blowing us up.’

She suffered cuts from shards of broken glass, while Reid spent more than a week in hospital.