A Leeds man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after locking a woman and three children inside a property and threatening to blow it up, following a deliberate gas leak.
Barricaded Incident and Mass Evacuation
The terrifying incident unfolded on the evening of October 21, 2023, on Roderick Street in the Upper Wortley area of Leeds. West Yorkshire Police were alerted at 9.37pm after receiving reports that 43-year-old Austin Reed had locked himself inside an address with a woman and three children.
The caller stated Reed had made threats to blow up the house and reported a strong smell of gas. Upon arrival, officers found the woman and children had been let out by a family member, but Reed remained inside, having barricaded himself in.
Due to the serious threat to public safety posed by the potential gas explosion, a significant emergency services operation was launched. This led to the precautionary evacuation of a number of neighbouring houses, causing major disruption for local residents.
Forced Entry and Investigation
A specialist police negotiator was deployed to the scene in an attempt to make contact with Reed. However, when communication broke down and concerns for his welfare grew, officers forced entry into the property shortly before 11.30pm.
Reed was taken to hospital for a medical assessment before being transferred into police custody. A subsequent investigation by a gas engineer confirmed that intentional damage had been caused to a boiler within the house, which was the direct cause of the dangerous gas leak.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Austin Reed, of The Elms in Leeds, later pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, where he was handed a custodial sentence of three and a half years.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Clementine Brown of the Leeds Domestic Abuse Team said: “Thankfully this incident was resolved safely, but Reed’s actions that evening put himself and others, including children, in serious danger. A large-scale emergency services operation was put in place with significant disruption caused to those living in the area. I hope those affected are reassured by the custodial sentence that Reed has been given.”
