Moment man blows up house by cutting gas pipe after partner kicked him out

A man blew up his house by deliberately cutting a gas pipe and setting fire to a chair after his partner kicked him out. Paul Solway, 58, was having a “meltdown” following a dispute with his partner, Joanna Waterfall, when he caused the explosion at her home in Eden Street, Alvaston, Derby, on 10 June 2025. Footage released by Derbyshire Constabulary captured the moment the front of the house was blown into the street as a car drove by. Following the explosion, two neighbouring properties also had to be demolished. Solway, of no fixed address, was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday (8 April). He had previously admitted to six counts of damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered, relating to six houses, at a hearing in January. Ms Waterfall, who lost most of her possessions, said after the sentencing. “I think it should have been more. Eleven years for six houses. It’s nothing, isn’t it?”