Spurned lover turned on gas and tried to blow up ex’s flat

A MAN tried to blow up his former girlfriend’s house by turning on the gas supply and setting fire to the furniture, a court has heard.

Paul Hines put the lives of fire and ambulance crews at risk as well as the safety of his ex, Angela Downie, Livingston Sheriff Court was told.

And when a sheriff sent the 48-year-old for psychiatric assessment as an in-patient he threatened to kill a male nurse.

Hines, of Livingston, West Lothian, was refused further treatment by staff after the incident at St John’s Hospital.

He was convicted after trial yesterday of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards staff at St John’s Hospital in Livingston on Saturday, August 6.

He earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Downie to her injury in her home in Broxburn, West Lothian, on February 18.

He pressed a cushion over her mouth and brandished a knife at her before setting fire to her home during the terrifying incident on March 7.

Sentencing Hines to 14 months in prison, Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “Public protection has been identified as an issue and you’re in need of further assessment before you can be returned to the community.”