A MAN has been jailed for attempted arson after police found him releasing toxic gas into a living room, while a trail of gas canisters and potentially explosive ‘sinister’ objects were scattered throughout the home.

The court heard of how Mark Warburton had sent his girlfriend at the time a ‘goodbye text’ that morning, alerting police officers to a apartment on Alder Lane in Orford.

Warburton, now of Cedar Grove in Wigan, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday via a video link from prison, after pleading guilty to attempted arson with intent to endanger life.

Prosecuting, Nick Cockrell said the incident occurred on May 23 this year.

He said that police were called to the property three times that day, with the first visit due to reports of concern for Warburton after his partner had received the worrying text, and the second visit relating to reports that the accused had been making his own bombs.

Upon the final visit to the flat, situated on the third floor of the apartment block, police entered to witness the disturbing scene of Warburton, 38, lay on the sofa releasing the contents of a butane gas canister into the room.

A lighter was situated on the floor next to a camping stove and within reaching distance of the defendant, and the room was described as ‘hazy’ due to the levels of gas that had already been released.

The court also heard that when entering the kitchen, officers found a microwave with the door open, packed with four butane gas canisters and drill bits and a timer set to 35 minutes.

Several more canisters were found in a blue box and dotted around the premises, along with a dismantled toaster and other potentially dangerous objects.

Mr Cockrell further explained that a fire brigade officer said that if the defendant had ignited his lighter, there could have been a ‘quick and violent explosion’.

A forensic scientist backed up these claims, stating that depending on the concentration of the butane in the room, it could have resulted in an explosion and a large fire – potentially endangering other residents in the apartment block.

Defending, Fiona Mcneill said that there were ‘clear concerns’ from Warburton’s family members that he was having a psychotic episode and on the day of the incident, he had been ‘hallucinating’ and ‘believed he was being watched’.

She said: “It perhaps comes as no surprise that both physicians concluded that he was suffering from a psychotic episode.

“He did on that day act in a holy uncharacteristic way. He accepts what he did was a risk, but his aim was to take his own life.”

“He clearly is a man who has had troubles throughout his life,” She added.

Concluding, recorder Andrew Mcloughlin said: “The effects of your behaviour could have been catastrophic.”

He added that the large block of flats where the incident occurred had to be taken into account, with 25 residents having been ‘forced’ to leave due to the risk of the levels of gas in the building.

Aggravating factors mentioned included a ‘significant degree of planning’, a ‘potential device of a microwave’ and the fact ‘multiple people could have been endangered’.

The defendant was handed a custodial sentence of 32 months imprisonment and a surcharge of £190 is to be paid.