Your Patch
‘Gas blast’ arrest
by YourMail-Heather
5 months ago
in
Anlaby Road and Hessle Road
Last updated 2 months ago.
from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Wednesday, April 30
A man treated in hospital for burns to his hands and face after a suspected gas explosion in a west Hull flat has been charged with causing the blast. Council tenant Lee Darley, 40, was arrested on Friday night after being released from Hull Royal Infirmary.
He was taken to the hospital on Monday, April 7, with severe burns to his hands, face and ears after his flat in Athens Close was ripped apart by the explosion.
He appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with recklessly endangering human life and criminal damage.
He was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Crown Court later this week.
Terry Larkin, who lived below the flat that exploded, has been waiting to hear if he will be allowed back into his home.
He was watching television in his ground-floor flat when the explosion destroyed the flat above.
Demolition experts were called in to remove what was left of the gutted flat.
He has been told the building might need to be flattened.
Today, Mr Larkin said: “I want to keep living there, but if they say they are pulling it down then they are pulling it down.”
Mr Larkin stayed with friends after the explosion and moved in to temporary accommodation in Anlaby Road last week.
He said: “The council got the flat ready for me pretty quickly.”
A spokeswoman for Hull City Council said: “We are awaiting a structural engineer’s report.
“A decision will be made as to the future of the building once we are aware of the report’s findings.”
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YourMail-Heather Submitted 2 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
New council flat for man who blew up his last one in suicide attempt.
from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Saturday, August 2
A tenant has been offered a new council flat – three months after he accidentally blew up his last one in a failed suicide bid.
Unemployed Lee Darley caused £51,000 of damage to the upstairs flat, which is owned by Hull City Council.
Yet the 40-year-old was spared an immediate prison sentence yesterday after a judge took pity on him.
During the hearing at Hull Crown Court, it also emerged Darley is likely to be offered a replacement flat by the council.
Even his lawyer, Mark Bury, said the decision to reaccommodate him was “remarkable”.
Meanwhile, specialist engineers are still deciding the fate of the wrecked flat in Athens Close, off Hawthorn Avenue, west Hull.
Darley, who admitted a charge of recklessly endangering human life and criminal damage, survived the April 7 explosion.
Darley’s parents Ian and Marjorie Darley, who had flown from Vanderbjl, near Johannesburg for the hearing, sat in the public gallery.
In a police interview, Darley – who was previously of good character – told officers: “In a moment of madness I decided to gas myself.
“I was on the floor for a few minutes. I realised I had made a mistake, so stood up to turn off the gas. Then it just exploded.”
Penny Stanistreet, prosecuting, told the court the explosion had a “devastating” effect on neighbour Terry Larkin, 72, who lived below.
She said: “Mr Larkin described hearing a massive bang. He thought it was a bomb. He saw the roof tiles coming off. Mr Larkin was amazed he had survived.”
A structural engineer ruled both flats were uninhabitable. Mr Larkin was later given a temporary home.
As previously reported in the Mail, Mr Larkin suffered a heart attack three weeks after the explosion.
The court was read a victim impact statement written by Mr Larkin. It said: “Before the explosion, I never suffered with heart problems. I hadn’t been to the doctor for three years.
“I cannot say for certain but I believe it (the heart attack) was brought on by what happened.”
After a spell at Hull Royal Infirmary, Darley spent a week at Miranda House, a mental health unit.
Mr Bury, mitigating, said: “This was Mr Darley behaving in a way he would not ordinarily behave in. It was a particularly low ebb.”
Darley was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and an 18-month supervision order.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Jack told Darley: “You did something that, at best, can be described as highly irresponsible. Mr Larkin was subjected to a great deal of distress and stress.
“I take into account that at the time you were suffering from depression and that you now regret it.”
Outside court, Darley’s parents said they were “relieved” their son had not been ordered to serve a prison sentence.
Darley emigrated with his parents to South Africa more than 20 years ago, but returned to East Yorkshire five years ago.
His father said: “Maybe we will never know the reason why he decided to blow up that flat. It has been traumatic for everyone involved.”
Detective Sergeant Tony Tinsley said a sharp-eyed investigator spotted all four rings on the cooker were in the on position.
“This set alarm bells ringing,” he said. “We sent the cooker, boiler and a gas fire to Ideal in National Avenue for tests, but they were in good working order.
“In the face of damning evidence he admitted the charge.
“Darley is a real introvert. He had no friends and all his family are in South Africa.”
Hull City Council www.hullcc.gov.uk
Humberside Police www.humberside.police.uk
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