A COUPLE could have blown up themselves and their neighbours when they paid to have their gas meter sabotaged to save on fuel bills, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

The mother of two said she went along with her husband’s idea to disconnect the meter because her children were cold.

Alexander Porteleky, 34, and Silvia Portelekyova, 32, stole £1,650 from British Gas and the total cost of the theft and damage was £4,367, prosecutor Paul Nicholson said.

Both pleaded guilty to damaging the £150 gas meter on October 4, 2016, when they were living at Yew Tree Crescent, Daisy Hill, Bradford.

Now of Longfield Drive, Dudley Hill, Bradford, they also admitted stealing gas between March 7, 2016, and March 5, 2019.

Mr Nicholson said that when the meter was checked, it was showing that it was switched off, but the boiler and radiators were on.

The couple confessed to paying someone to smash a valve to disconnect the meter.

Portelekyova’s barrister, Robin Frieze, said she went along with her husband’s plan because her children were cold.

She then had to stick with it because otherwise she would have had to tell British Gas what they had done.

She was a woman of good character who was terrified of the court proceedings.

Portelekyova worked hard as a cleaner and as a mother to the couple’s children.

Emma Downing, for Porteleky, said he conceded that the theft and damage were his idea.

He was very remorseful and now back in work.

Miss Downing said the couple would be made to pay back every penny by British Gas who would put a surcharge on the supply.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, told the couple: “What you did was very wrong. You could have blown yourself up, and your neighbours.”

But they were hardworking parents who had promised not to reoffend.

Porteleky was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Portelekyova was given a 12 month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Durham Hall did not make a compensation order because he was satisfied that British Gas would recoup their money in full from the couple.