Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Causing Gas Explosion That Destroyed Six Homes in Derby
A man has been handed an 11-year prison sentence after igniting a gas explosion that obliterated six terrace houses in Alvaston, Derby, following a domestic dispute with his partner. Paul Solway, 58, admitted to six counts of damaging property with reckless endangerment of life, stemming from the incident on June 10 last year.
Devastating Aftermath of the Explosion
The explosion, captured on video by Derbyshire Constabulary, blew the front wall of the house into the street, narrowly missing a passing car. Solway's partner, Joanne Waterfall, lost all her possessions, walking away with only one outfit, as the blast and subsequent demolition left her without home insurance. Two neighboring properties had to be demolished, and other residents suffered thousands of pounds in damages to their homes and vehicles.
Judge Shaun Smith KC described the effects as "devastating", noting that people lost their savings and were forced into council-provided accommodation. Waterfall expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, stating, "Eleven years for six houses. It's nothing, isn't it? I've never had an apology from him. He's got no remorse." She believes Solway plotted the crime to get back at her.
Details of the Incident and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC revealed that Solway was having a "meltdown" before the explosion, punching a garden fence and telling a neighbor he would be "dead by tonight." After Waterfall kicked him out, Solway disconnected a gas pipe and set a chair on fire in the kitchen, igniting the gas. He suffered serious burns and was placed in a medically induced coma post-blast.
Appearing via video link from HMP Nottingham, Solway, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Derby Crown Court. The judge imposed a restraining order prohibiting contact with Waterfall. DC Shaun Carter of Derbyshire Police commented, "Solway's decision to cut this gas pipe left him in hospital but also caused distress and devastation to other members of the community in Derby."
Neighbors continue to grapple with the fallout, with one homeowner reportedly in a "really dark place" after losing a family home that had been passed down for four generations. The case underscores the severe consequences of reckless actions on community safety and property.
