A MAN had to be dragged from his home by police after he damaged a gas pipe in the midst of a mental health crisis, a court heard.

David Jones, of High Street in Bagillt, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Tuesday morning.

At a previous hearing, the 47-year-old admitted one offence of criminal damage being reckless as to whether life was endangered, in that in Flintshire on May 27 last year, he destroyed a main gas pipe belonging to Wales and West Utilities.

Joshua Gorst, prosecuting, told the court that on the day of the offence, police received a call from the defendant's ex-partner, prompting significant concerns for his welfare.

Officers attended his home - then in Flint - where they heard a hissing sound and could smell gas.

After forcing entry, they found Jones slumped on the couch and dragged him out, following which he was detained under the Mental Health Act.

He confirmed there and then that he was in mental health crisis and he'd damaged a gas pipe in the property.

The gas was turned off and an engineer attended.

Their findings were that had the leak not been stopped for "a good amount of time" and the gas had somehow been ignited, an explosion could have resulted.

When interviewed, Jones said he'd had an argument with his ex-partner and issues with his neighbour regarding noise in the leadup to the offence.

When the police told him what he'd actually done, he was shocked - admitting it was "a stupid thing to do" and that "other people could have been killed."

Oliver King, defending, said: "He's a chef and is classically trained in French dishes.

"This is something he feels passionately about and that's how his career started.

"He had taken on the management of a pub, and then lockdown hit.

"He found himself in debt, got into arrears and then his marriage broke down.

"Another relationship didn't go well and that led him to being at rock bottom, drinking far too much, in the leadup to the offence.

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"He was in crisis at the time and felt completely powerless."

Mr King said his client accepted his actions had created a high risk of harm to others, but told the court he had since turned his life around.

"He took a long look at himself," he said, "and this was a wakeup call.

"He has now secured a job at a restaurant in Chester and he's been there a number of months now, working 14 hours a day, five days a week.

"He has tried to demonstrate since this happened that he is sorry and has tried to put his life back together."

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "It was an extremely stupid and potentially dangerous thing to do whilst feeling sorry for yourself in a drunken state.

"I'm persuaded that yours is an unusual case... I'd go so far as to say exceptional.

"There was minimal damage and I'm dealing with something that was 18 months ago now.

"You've turned your life around and there are real prospects of rehabilitation."

Giving Jones credit for his guilty plea, the Judge handed down a 21 month custodial sentence but suspended it for two years.

The defendant must undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity and a mental health treatment requirement.

Given he works long hours, the Judge opted to impose a financial penalty rather than unpaid work; ordering him to pay a fine of £1,000, £350 costs, £250 compensation and a £187 victim surcharge.