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Poole explosion: Ex-husband jailed for blowing up house | Poole explosion: Ex-husband jailed for blowing up house |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man who blew up his marital home while his ex-wife was downstairs has been jailed for five years and four months. | A man who blew up his marital home while his ex-wife was downstairs has been jailed for five years and four months. |
Ian and Elaine Clowes converted their home in Poole, Dorset, into two separate flats following their divorce. | Ian and Elaine Clowes converted their home in Poole, Dorset, into two separate flats following their divorce. |
Clowes, 68, ignited a gas cylinder in October 2018 to stop her from owning the whole building, Bournemouth Crown Court heard. | Clowes, 68, ignited a gas cylinder in October 2018 to stop her from owning the whole building, Bournemouth Crown Court heard. |
He admitted arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. | He admitted arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. |
The explosion on Sterte Road on 22 October caused more than £600,000 worth of damage, the court was told. | The explosion on Sterte Road on 22 October caused more than £600,000 worth of damage, the court was told. |
Mr Clowes, who was upstairs when the butane canister ignited, suffered severe burns in the blast and spent weeks in an induced coma. | Mr Clowes, who was upstairs when the butane canister ignited, suffered severe burns in the blast and spent weeks in an induced coma. |
His wife was rescued uninjured from the rubble-filled downstairs bedroom by firefighters, the court was told. | His wife was rescued uninjured from the rubble-filled downstairs bedroom by firefighters, the court was told. |
Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, said a neighbouring house which sustained "catastrophic" damage was uninsured. | Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, said a neighbouring house which sustained "catastrophic" damage was uninsured. |
The court heard firefighters found two canisters in Clowes' flat, with one "still venting gas" after the valve had been opened. | The court heard firefighters found two canisters in Clowes' flat, with one "still venting gas" after the valve had been opened. |
Clowes was heard to say, "I don't want to be here anymore - I just wanted to die", as he was treated at the scene, Mr Ellacott said. | Clowes was heard to say, "I don't want to be here anymore - I just wanted to die", as he was treated at the scene, Mr Ellacott said. |
He said the defendant had originally owned the whole building, but a court ordered his wife could take possession of the house after paying him £65,000. | He said the defendant had originally owned the whole building, but a court ordered his wife could take possession of the house after paying him £65,000. |
The explosion happened on the day the property was due to be transferred. | The explosion happened on the day the property was due to be transferred. |
Robert Grey, mitigating, said his client was remorseful and the act was "out of character". | |
He said Clowes did not remember anything around the time of the explosion but accepted he must have released the valve. | He said Clowes did not remember anything around the time of the explosion but accepted he must have released the valve. |
Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said Clowes must have known his wife was in the flat downstairs when he detonated the gas canister. | Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said Clowes must have known his wife was in the flat downstairs when he detonated the gas canister. |
He added: "This case was motivated by a degree of malice - you did not want your wife to get the house." | He added: "This case was motivated by a degree of malice - you did not want your wife to get the house." |