Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Blowing Up Girlfriend's House in Derby
A man who caused a devastating explosion at his girlfriend's home in Derby after she kicked him out has been jailed for 11 years. Paul Solway, 58, deliberately leaked gas and set fire to a chair at the property on Eden Street, Alvaston, on June 10 last year, leading to a massive blast that destroyed the house and damaged neighbouring homes.
Details of the Explosion and Aftermath
Video footage released by Derbyshire Constabulary shows the front of the terraced house being blown into the street, narrowly missing a passing car. The explosion caused thousands of pounds in damage, with two neighbouring properties also having to be demolished due to the severity of the destruction. Solway admitted to six counts of damaging property and being reckless as to whether life was endangered at a hearing in January.
Ms Waterfall, the girlfriend, stated she 'walked away with one outfit' and has had to start from scratch, losing all her possessions. She expressed frustration with the sentence, saying, 'In my eyes, I think it should have been more. Eleven years for six houses. It's nothing, isn't it?' She added that Solway has shown no remorse and never apologised, believing he plotted the attack to get back at her.
Court Proceedings and Impact on Community
At Derby Crown Court, Solway appeared via video link from HMP Nottingham, wearing a green T-shirt and a white bandage on his arm, having suffered serious burns and been in a medically induced coma after the blast. Judge Shaun Smith KC described the effects as devastating, noting that people lost savings and are now reliant on council-provided accommodation. He emphasised that the entire community on Eden Street was affected, with no one escaping the consequences.
Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC revealed that Solway was having a 'meltdown' before the explosion, punching a garden fence and telling a neighbour he would be 'dead by tonight'. After Ms Waterfall left and told him to move out, he disconnected a gas pipe and set a chair on fire in the kitchen, igniting the gas. Solway emerged from the rear of the property with his hair burned off and told officers it was gas-related, confirming only he and a dog were inside.
Wider Consequences and Police Response
The court heard that another homeowner has been in a 'really dark place' since her family home, owned for four generations, was partly demolished. Other neighbours suffered significant damage to their houses and cars. Police, fire crews, and gas workers remained at the scene for over 17 hours after the explosion.
Judge Smith made Solway subject to a restraining order, prohibiting contact with Ms Waterfall. Detective Constable 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.' He added that many families are still dealing with the impact nearly a year later, and while no sentence can restore what was lost, he hopes the imprisonment will help victims look to the future.
