A Falklands’ veteran who decided to “blow himself to bits” without realising the consequences to neighbours was today jailed for five years for causing a huge gas blast.
Ian Lenaghan, an ex-Royal Navy serviceman, including in the Falklands War of 40 years ago, tampered with and deliberately severed the hose taking gas into his cooker.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he then turned up the gas on his cooker and ignited it with his lighter.
In the ensuing explosion he was seriously injured, but his upstairs flat in Whickham Street, Roker, was destroyed as was that of a downstairs neighbour, while adjoining properties were also badly damaged, with the estimated loss to housing provider gentoo put at more than £1m.
Read more: Man admits causing gas explosion in Sunderland street
More than 40 Tyne and Wear Fire Service crew and 15 vehicles were among the huge deployment of emergency services to the scene in the aftermath of the blast, at about 3.45pm on Tuesday, February 15.
One neighbour, who had lived at the property for 22 years, reported hearing a sudden “whoosh” and was also injured.
As he was uninsured he has lost all his possessions and one of his two pet cats was killed in the blast.
He was also admitted to hospital where he spent two days receiving oxygen, while another neighbour, who owned her flat, was left in only the clothes she was wearing.
The defendant, who was found in the loft space of his home, suffered 80-per cent burns and spent several weeks in hospital before being held on remand in prison.
He has lost much of the manual dexterity in his hands, and now resorts to eating with his hands, while he still suffers the effects of burns and his lung capacity has been reduced to 20-per cent.
Although 59-year-old Lenaghan initially denied responsibility, he subsequently pleaded guilty to damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered, at a hearing at the court in May.
The case was adjourned for preparation of probation and psychiatric reports on the defendant ahead of today’s sentencing hearing.
His counsel, Tony Cornberg, told the court: “He didn’t expect to cause an explosion but, ultimately, it was an act to take his own life.
“There had been media coverage of the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, when he was on active service, and he feels he has not done anything of value, other than working, sitting in his couch and watching tv since, in his words.
“It built up that he couldn’t bear another 30 years of doing the same.
“Asked why, he said he took this opportunity.
“He thought it would be contained within the kitchen and did not realise the other circumstances.”
Read more: Man in court charged with explosion in Sunderland
The psychiatrist who prepared the report for the court said there could have been an underlying suffering of PTSD in the defendant.
But Mr Cornberg said: “He (the defendant) never thought of killing himself before and we may never know what was in his head that day.”
Passing sentence, Recorder Thomas Moran told Lenaghan: “For reasons that remain largely difficult to comprehend you decided, having never previously tried to harm yourself and with no diagnosis of mental health problems, to take your own life.
“You chose a spectacularly reckless way to do that.
“The way you did it exposed other people to a great deal of danger.”
Recorder Moran said it must have required “some determination” to severe the gas hose pipe to the cooker.
He said the value of the damage has not been possible to calculate, but it appears to be in excess of £1m, with gentoo still undecided if it should demolish the property entirely or attempt major repairs.
Recorder Moran said in passing sentence he had to balance the danger the defendant put other people in, and the serious consequential economic impact of the damage, with the defendant’s past clean record, service to the country and bear in mind the serious injuries he suffered, himself.
He said had the defendant taken it to a trial, the sentence would have been six years and eight months, but, given 25-per cent discount for his guilty plea, the sentence imposed was 60 months, or five years’ imprisonment.
Read more: Man who caused explosion to Sunderland homes to be sentenced
Detective Sergeant Alan Whittle, of Northumbria Police, said: “Ian Lenaghan’s actions that afternoon could so easily have resulted in a number of fatalities.
“It is sheer luck that nobody died in that blast.
“The damage caused on this residential street was significant, at an estimated value of up to £1.4 million.
“It displaced people from their homes and came at a huge cost to everyone involved.
“I am pleased that he has now been convicted of this offence at court and he must now face the consequences of his mindless actions when he is sentenced.
“I would like to thank the community for their incredible cooperation and patience throughout, as well as HSE, Gentoo (housing provider) and our blue-light colleagues who played such an instrumental role in the hours and days after the blast.”
The second male who was taken to hospital has since been discharged.
Read next:
PICTURES: Sunderland home 24 hours after 'gas' explosion
Suspected gas explosion in Roker area of Sunderland
Footage shows scale of explosion which destroyed Sunderland home
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