A man has been jailed for causing a gas leak which led to the evacuation of a number of houses in Wortley.
Austin Reed, aged 43, of The Elms, Bramley, pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage – recklessly endangering life. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (13 January) where he was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment.
At 9.37pm on 21 October 2023, police received a report that Reed had locked himself, a woman and three children inside an address on Roderick Street, Wortley. It was reported he had threatened to blow up the house, with the caller reporting a smell of gas within the property.
On police attendance, the woman and children had been let out of the property by a family member, but Reed remained inside and had barricaded himself within the address.
Due to concerns about wider public safety, a number of nearby properties were evacuated.
A specialist negotiator was deployed to the scene but shortly before 11.30pm due to lack of further contact from Reed and increased concerns for his welfare, entry was forced into the property. 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 gas leak.
Police Sergeant Clementine Brown, of Leeds Domestic Abuse Team, said: “Thankfully this incident was resolved safely, but Reed’s actions that evening put himself and others, including children, in serious danger.
“A large-scale emergency services operation was put in place with significant disruption caused to those living in the area.
“I hope those affected are reassured by the custodial sentence that Reed has been given.”