Man jailed after threats to blow up house

A man who locked a woman and three children in a house with him then threatened to blow up the property with a gas leak has been jailed.

Emergency services were called to reports Austin Reed had detained the other people and himself inside the address on Roderick Street, Leeds, on 21 January 2023.

Police discovered the woman and children had been freed by a family member but Reed had barricaded himself inside, leading to the street being evacuated.

The 43-year-old, of The Elms, Leeds, pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage recklessly endangering life and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to three years and six months in prison.

The court heard West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Northern Gas Network had been sent to the scene.

A specialist negotiator was deployed but due to lack of further contact from Reed, and increased concerns for his welfare, authorities forced their way in.

Reed was taken to hospital to be checked over before being taken into police custody.

It was established by a gas engineer that intentional damage had been caused to a boiler within the property causing a leak.

After he was sentenced on Tuesday, Sgt Clementine Brown said: "Thankfully this incident was resolved safely, but Reed's actions that evening put himself and others, including children, in serious danger."

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