A COUNCIL tenant has been evicted after a botched attempt to reconnect his gas and electricity could have "blown up an entire housing estate".

The dangerous connection was discovered when council workmen and a plumber called at Warren Kirkby's council house in Buckley Lane, Farnworth, a court heard on Monday.

Judge Joanne Shaw said that Kirkby could have killed members of his own family, his neighbours or council workmen because of the illegal reconnection.

The court heard that the father of three had illegally reconnected supplies twice. The first time, in January, he used a substitute gas meter to bypass the card-operated system.

The second time, in March, just a plastic tube was used.

The County Court, sitting at Bolton Crown Court heard that bare electrical wires were left.

Judge Shaw described Kirkby's behaviour as "astonishing." She added: "You could have killed people -- council employees, plumbers, passers-by, your neighbours and children, and in large numbers. The entire estate could have been blown up. I hope you are sorry for that."

The eviction is the first to be won by Bolton at Home's Anti Social Behaviour Team. Kirkby now has 28 days to quit his home. A spokesman for Bolton Council, which brought the eviction proceedings said: "The anti social behaviour teams are working closely with colleagues and the police on a number of other cases and more legal action is anticipated in the very near future.

"We will not hesitate to use this course of action wherever we think it's necessary in the interests of our tenants and customers."

Kirkby told the court that he had returned home one day in January to find that a friend, who was staying at his home, had carried out the makeshift reconnection.

At the time, Kirkby was subject to an injunction order issued on behalf of Bolton Council to make him tidy his garden and remove a caravan and potentially hazardous materials. Council workmen discovered the botched job when they went to his house after Kirkby complained that they had not been maintaining his home. Kirkby, aged 49, was also found to have a petrol generator in his home in breach of his tenancy agreement.

He represented himself in court and said: "The allegations about the gas and electric are true. And with the house being in my name I have accepted responsibility. A friend of mine did it, and I was not in the house at the time." I told him it was not his house, but I was too late." He argued that his three children, who he says live with him, should not have to suffer for his behaviour. But Judge Shaw said the fact that Kirkby had already reconnected the supplies twice suggested that he may not be trusted not to do it again. She said: "This court and myself would not evict a person from their home if I felt it unfair to do so and I had an alternative." A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, was unaware of Kirkby's actions. She said: "I'm horrified to find that he has been doing this and has been putting our lives at risk. He kept himself to himself and we never had any idea he was stealing electricity and gas.

Kirkby, who was ordered to pay £240 court costs refused to comment after the hearing. At the same time as Kirkby's first illegal reconnection in January, British Gas investigators raided 43 homes in a crackdown on meter fiddlers.