Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder via Gas Leak and Fire
A man who attempted to murder his neighbours by creating a gas leak and igniting a fire during a siege at his residence has been sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
Gary McIntyre, aged 31, deliberately cut open gas pipes at his home and set fire to household items at the property located on Watson Street, Cowdenbeath, on 27 December 2024.
The High Court in Edinburgh was informed that emergency services were dispatched after receiving a call from McIntyre's former partner, who reported that he intended to take his own life.
McIntyre, currently residing in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, entered a guilty plea to an attempted murder charge during a hearing presided over by Judge Norman McFadyen last month.
Details of the Incident and Court Proceedings
Prosecutor Naomei Warner explained to the court that McIntyre refused to cooperate with police officers who arrived at the scene. The court was told that he threw objects, including a refrigerator, at the officers.
Warner stated that this obstruction prevented officers from assessing the extent of the gas leak, prompting emergency gas workers to attempt an evaluation.
"A probe was placed through the letter box. The accused tried to pull it. In a normal situation, the reading is supposed to be zero parts of gas in one million parts of air.
The readings which were taken were 750 parts of gas, 8,500 parts of gas and then 11,000 parts of gas per million.
Due to these readings neighbours within the surrounding properties were evacuated."
McIntyre admitted to wilfully setting fire to "unknown items" inside his former residence, which subsequently ignited.
He acknowledged that he did this with the intent to cause an explosion after previously damaging "internal gas pipes" at the house, resulting in a gas leak.
The charge further detailed that he barricaded the door to "prevent emergency services from entering" and that his actions endangered the lives of others, legally referred to as "lieges," constituting an attempted murder.
Defence and Sentencing
Defence counsel Gordon Martin KC informed the court that McIntyre had been experiencing poor mental health, having recently ended a relationship and suffered the destruction of his van by police.
The court was advised that McIntyre had been employed as a self-employed joiner and that his tools, valued at £3,500, were inside the vehicle at the time of its destruction.
Martin added that his client's mental health had since improved and that he had received counselling for his issues. He stated:
"He expresses genuine remorse for his actions."
Judge McFadyen acknowledged McIntyre's "significant record" of previous convictions, including violent offences.
The judge also noted that McIntyre would be subject to supervision for three years following his release from custody.
