6 days Ago By The Telegraph
A seven-year-old boy was killed in a house explosion caused by a cannabis sweet laboratory in a neighbouring flat containing 100 gas canisters. Reece Galbraith, 33, has admitted the manslaughter of Archie York and Galbraith’s friend Jason “Jay” Laws, 35 , who died in a blast at Violet Close, Benwell, Newcastle, in the early hours of October 16. The blast wrecked the street, rendered families homeless and led to a major emergency services response.
Galbraith, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, had previously denied manslaughter and was due to go on trial next month but appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via a prison videolink on Thursday to change his pleas to guilty. He also admitted possessing and supplying cannabis between November 2023 and October 2024. He will be sentenced on May 14 by Mr Justice Cotter after a report has been prepared.
Judge Paul Sloan KC, who remanded Galbraith in custody after his guilty plea, said: “As you will be aware, you face a significant, immediate custodial sentence.” Galbraith was badly injured in the blast and his solicitor said at a previous hearing he was lucky to survive. Archie was asleep in bed when the blast ripped through the home he shared with parents, Katherine and Robbie, and his baby brother, Finley.
Earlier this week, his mother told the Newcastle Chronicle : “As a parent and as a mother you try your best to keep your children safe, and that was took out of my hands. “When they are in the house, that’s supposed to be the safest place.” At a previous hearing at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, prosecutors said police stopped Galbraith’s car in April last year and found drugs.
His home was searched and moulds to make cannabis sweets were discovered. He was released pending further investigation. Analysis of his mobile phone showed 80 text messages relating to the sale of cannabis sweets.
‘He was lucky not to be killed’ Claire Armstrong, representing the prosecution, said the explosion on October 16 was caused by butane gas stored in the property to process drugs. “Following the explosion, 100 butane cannisters were found,” she said. She said Galbraith’s fingerprints were present on items recovered from the destroyed flat, which the prosecution described as a “drug lab”.
Michael Gibson, defending at the magistrates’ court hearing, said Galbraith had been in regular work in construction until the age of 31. Mr Gibson said: “He was lucky not to be killed in the explosion. “He was placed in an induced coma for a week and in hospital for a month receiving treatment.
That treatment is ongoing. “He doesn’t have full use of his arms due to burns. “He is weak and feeble.
” ‘Blast was caused by a build-up of butane’ After the explosion Northumbria police found the flat operated by Galbraith and Laws was used as a “drugs lab” to produce cannabis concentrates – known as “shatter” or “butane honey oil” – in a highly dangerous process. The product was then turned into cannabis edibles, also known as “gummies”. Christopher Atkinson, head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Archie York, whose tragic death last year shocked the community of Benwell.
“It is clear from the evidence in this case that the explosion which took Archie’s life was caused by a build-up of butane in the address used by Jason Laws, who also died in the blast. “That address had been the site of an illegal operation producing a highly concentrated form of cannabis, through a dangerous process involving the use of large quantities of flammable butane gas.” Northumbria Police urged the public to contact them if they become aware of people buying multiple butane canisters, propane bottles or unusual looking stainless-steel equipment.
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