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Gas Leak Terror: Man Jailed for Leeds Siege
16 Jan
Summary
- A man threatened to blow up a Leeds house using a gas leak.
- He held a woman and three children hostage inside the property.
- The 43-year-old was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
A man who caused a gas leak and threatened to blow up a Leeds property has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison. The incident occurred on Roderick Street when Austin Reed held a woman and three children captive on January 21, 2023. Emergency services, including police, fire, and ambulance services, were dispatched.
While a family member managed to free the woman and children, Reed then barricaded himself inside, prompting the evacuation of the street. A specialist negotiator was deployed, but due to a lack of contact and growing concerns for his welfare, authorities breached the property. Reed was taken to the hospital for assessment before being taken into police custody.
Investigators confirmed that intentional damage to a boiler had caused a significant gas leak. The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to criminal damage, recklessly endangering life. Authorities confirmed the incident was resolved safely, but noted the extreme danger posed by Reed's actions to himself and others.
