Man jailed for more than six years after breaking gas pipe in revenge threat
Steven Jones told his victim she would "go boom" after damaging her gas meter following an argument
A man from Warrington has been jailed for more than six years, after damaging a woman's gas meter following an argument.
Forty-year-old Steven Jones, of Parker Street, pleaded guilty to criminal damage - recklessly endangering life - and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 27th July.
Jones had been arguing with the woman over the phone on 20th April, when he went to her home address, opened the gas meter cupboard outside her flat, and broke the pipe, causing a leak.
During the argument, he told her: "When you open your front door and light a cigarette up, you will go boom."
Police attended the scene, where they found a strong smell of gas. A gas engineer also attended and made the gas mains safe.
Readings showed the gas had reached a level that would have posed a threat to life, and that a small spark could have triggered an explosion.
Jones was arrested the following day.
DC Williams said: "Jones' actions could easily have caused an explosion, injuring or potentially killing people, all because of an argument. Thankfully, the incident was resolved before anyone got hurt but the outcome could easily have been very different."
They added: "This reckless, dangerous and calculated behaviour which risked people's lives has now landed him behind bars for a considerable length of time and I welcome the sentence handed to him."