Man blows up house by cutting gas pipe after partner kicked him out | News

A man blew up his house by deliberately cutting a gas pipe and setting fire to a chair after his partner threw him out.

Paul Solway, 58, was suffering a “meltdown” when a dispute with his partner Joanna Waterfall caused an explosion at his home in Eden Street, Alvaston, Derby, on June 10, 2025.

Footage released by Derbyshire Constabulary captured the moment the front of the house flew onto the street as a car passed by. Following the explosion, two neighboring properties also had to be demolished.

Solway, who has no fixed address, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday, April 8. He had previously admitted six charges of damaging property by being reckless as to whether life was in danger in relation to six homes at a hearing in January.

Miss Waterfall, who lost most of her belongings, said the following after the sentence. “I think it should have been more. Eleven years for six houses. That’s nothing, right?”