A man has admitted manslaughter after two people, including a seven-year-old boy, died in a house explosion caused by gas cannisters used to make cannabis sweets.
Reece Galbraith, 33, initially denied being responsible for the deaths of Archie York and Jason “Jay” Laws, 35, after the blast in Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, on 16 October 2024.
However, the former construction worker, who was himself badly injured in the explosion, changed his pleas via a prison videolink at Newcastle Crown Court today.
The cause of the fire is now being reported for the first time after Galbraith admitted his guilt.
Police have said Laws was also involved in the production of drugs at Galbraith’s flat.
Archie was in bed asleep when the blast ripped through the home he shared with parents Katherine and Robbie and his baby brother Finley.
Earlier this week, Archie’s 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.
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“When they are in the house, that’s supposed to be the safest place.”
Six properties divided into two flats each were completely destroyed in the explosion, which led to a major emergency services response.
Northumbria Police’s investigations 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”.
Claire Armstrong, representing the prosecution during an earlier Newcastle Magistrates’ Court hearing, said the explosion was caused by butane gas that was in Galbraith’s property to process drugs.
She added: “Following the explosion, 100 butane cannisters were found.”
Ms Armstrong also said Galbraith’s fingerprints were present on items recovered from the destroyed flat.
Galbraith was badly injured in the blast and his solicitor said at a previous hearing that he was “lucky” to survive.
Michael Gibson, defending at a magistrates’ court hearing, added that Galbraith spent a week in an induced coma and that his treatment was “ongoing”.
Mr Gibson added: “He doesn’t have full use of his arms due to burns.
“He is weak and feeble.”
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Mr Gibson also told the court how Galbraith had been in regular construction work until the age of 31.
Galbraith, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, was due to go on trial next month before he changed his pleas.
He also admitted possessing and supplying cannabis between November 2023 and October 2024.
Judge Paul Sloan KC, who remanded Galbraith in custody after he pleaded guilty, told the defendant: “As you will be aware you face a significant, immediate custodial sentence.”
He will be sentenced on 14 May by Mr Justice Cotter after a report has been prepared.
At a previous magistrates’ court hearing, 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.
After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith, of Northumbria Police, said: “The process of creating ‘cannabis shatter’ and other drugs in this way is exceptionally dangerous.
“The truly devastating impact of this case should be enough to make anyone doing this to think again.
“We would also urge anyone who has any information about the production of drugs to come forward so we can take action – you could save someone’s life.”
