A man who caused an explosion in his own kitchen with his family in the house has been jailed for two years

Clinton Parren (16/11/77), of Pewsey Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, pleaded guilty to causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property and was sentenced today (Friday 9 July 2021) at Manchester Crown Court to two years in prison and a fine. 

Parren was living with his partner and their two children at the time of the incident.

On 29 December 2020, he bought a camping stove and four gas canisters to cook meals in the garden.

He said he left a gas canister next to the cooker but locked the other three in the shed.

The family was woken by an explosion at the house at around 00:30am the following morning.

Fire investigators attended at the scene and conducted a thorough examination with crime scene investigators.

It was found that a gas canister had been placed on the cooker hob, which had then been switched on.

The canister heated up until the gas inside expanded sufficiently to cause it to explode, causing significant damage to the whole property.

DC Natalie Richardson, from GMP's West Didsbury CID, said: "This was a reckless act that could have resulted in serious injuries, not only to Parren's and his own family, but also to his neighbours.

"He caused substantial irreparable damage to the property and it is a surprising that this did not affect the neighbouring properties."