Latest news with #JasonLaws
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Council seeks to claw back fatal explosion cost
Council bosses will try to claw back some of the multimillion-pound cost to the public purse caused by a drugs lab explosion that killed a seven-year-old boy. Reece Galbraith was jailed this week for 14 years for causing the blast in Violet Close, Benwell, in Newcastle, in which Archie York and 35-year-old Jason Laws died last October. The site of the explosion will remain grassed-over until a consultation with Archie's family and the wider community on if the houses should be rebuilt, Newcastle City Council said. The authority also confirmed it would be seeking to claim back some of the estimated £3.7m of costs incurred by the incident on insurance. It is unclear at this stage how much it may be able to recoup or how long that might take, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. 'My son was killed by criminals making cannabis' Drug dealer who killed boy, 7, in explosion jailed Explosion community 'relieved but still in pain' After Galbraith's sentencing, the local authority said that the incident had an "enormous, confounding impact on the community, staff and all those involved and has drained finances and resources in what are already difficult times". Civic centre bosses estimated £1.5m has been spent on the management, demolition, and reinstatement of the scene of the explosion, as well as supporting displaced families – many of whom lost not only their home, but all of their personal belongings. The explosion in the early hours of 16 October saw 142 residents from 51 homes, evacuated. Twelve properties affected by the blast have since been demolished and ten households have been permanently rehoused. The council also estimated that rebuilding those 12 lost homes would cost it about £1.9m – though bosses have stressed that it would only do so "if and when the time feels right" and following consultation with Archie's family and the wider community. That area has been grassed over to create a "space for quiet reflection" before any further consideration of its future use. A loss of rent and council tax income makes up the remainder of the stated £3.7m cost and would not be covered by insurance. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Explosion community 'relieved but still in pain' 'My son was killed by criminals making cannabis' Drug dealer who killed boy, 7, in explosion jailed Newcastle City Council
BBC News
18-05-2025
- BBC News
Newcastle City Council seeks to claw back Benwell explosion cost
Council bosses will try to claw back some of the multimillion-pound cost to the public purse caused by a drugs lab explosion that killed a seven-year-old Galbraith was jailed this week for 14 years for causing the blast in Violet Close, Benwell, in Newcastle, in which Archie York and 35-year-old Jason Laws died last site of the explosion will remain grassed-over until a consultation with Archie's family and the wider community on if the houses should be rebuilt, Newcastle City Council authority also confirmed it would be seeking to claim back some of the estimated £3.7m of costs incurred by the incident on insurance. It is unclear at this stage how much it may be able to recoup or how long that might take, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. 'My son was killed by criminals making cannabis' Drug dealer who killed boy, 7, in explosion jailedExplosion community 'relieved but still in pain' After Galbraith's sentencing, the local authority said that the incident had an "enormous, confounding impact on the community, staff and all those involved and has drained finances and resources in what are already difficult times".Civic centre bosses estimated £1.5m has been spent on the management, demolition, and reinstatement of the scene of the explosion, as well as supporting displaced families – many of whom lost not only their home, but all of their personal belongings. The explosion in the early hours of 16 October saw 142 residents from 51 homes, properties affected by the blast have since been demolished and ten households have been permanently rehoused. The council also estimated that rebuilding those 12 lost homes would cost it about £1.9m – though bosses have stressed that it would only do so "if and when the time feels right" and following consultation with Archie's family and the wider area has been grassed over to create a "space for quiet reflection" before any further consideration of its future use.A loss of rent and council tax income makes up the remainder of the stated £3.7m cost and would not be covered by insurance. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
‘You killed my son': Explosion victim's mother sobs as cannabis gummy dealer sentenced
A drug dealer who caused the death of a seven-year-old boy in an explosion has been sent to prison for 14 years. Reece Galbraith and his friend Jason 'Jay' Laws were using a Newcastle flat as a drugs lab when a blast ripped through the building in the early hours of October 16. The explosion killed both Laws and Archie York, who was asleep in the flat above. Galbraith, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, admitted two counts of manslaughter as well as possessing and supplying cannabis, at a hearing in April. He was sentenced on Wednesday at Newcastle Crown Court. Archie's mother, Katherine Errington, shouted 'you killed my son' at Galbraith as she read her victim impact statement in court. She sobbed as she told the defendant: 'You brought gas canisters into a building where families lived. You ran a drugs operation under the floor where my children slept. 'You took risks for profit and didn't care who got hurt. You killed my son.' The blast on Violet Close, Benwell, wrecked the street and made families homeless. The court heard it destroyed six out of the 12 flats in the block and was followed by a 'fierce fire', which caused so much damage the whole block has since been demolished. Police investigating the explosion discovered that 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'. Archie was asleep on the sofa with his father, Robbie York, when the blast ripped through the family home. Ms Errington was pulled out of the rubble by Mr York, who also found Archie's seven-week-old brother Finley, covered in dust but 'astonishingly unharmed', in the wreckage. But Mr York could not find Archie and they were told later that he had died. Ms Errington said she was 'furious' when she was informed within a week of Archie's death that shatter was being made in the flat below. Prosecutor David Brooke KC said Laws had been using the flat for months and there was 'little purpose' for it other than the production of cannabis. The court heard Galbraith, Laws' partner in the 'enterprise', was found walking away from the street immediately after the explosion asking about his friend. He suffered extensive burns and was in hospital for about a month, initially in an induced coma. At the time of the explosion, Galbraith was already being investigated for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, after police stopped his car in April and found cannabis bush, a set of scales and cannabis sweets. Officers later found 250 cannabis sweets, moulds and 300g of a sweet mixture when they searched his house. He was released pending further investigation. Police also found evidence on his phone that he was dealing in cannabis and cannabis sweets 'full-time' with Laws from at least as far back as November 2023. Experts found that the explosion was caused by the ignition of liquid butane gas, which had been released and built up within the premises as part of the illegal 'shatter' production. More than 100 butane canisters were found in the flat, Mr Brooke said, as well as other 'sophisticated and expensive' equipment'. The prosecutor said: 'The process of making shatter is inherently dangerous because butane is highly flammable. 'It is a process that has to be done with the utmost care to avoid an explosion.' The court heard the blast had had 'an enormous impact locally' and 10 households had to be permanently rehoused. More than 100 people were displaced to temporary accommodation and 53 of the 80 residents will not be returning. The financial impact is said to be about £3.7 million.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
‘Highly dangerous' cannabis shatter factory caused explosion that killed two
An explosion that killed a seven-year-boy and a 35-year-old man was caused when butane gas ignited during the 'highly dangerous' process of producing so-called cannabis shatter in a small flat, police have explained. Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith, who led the investigation into the blast which killed Archie York and Jason Laws, in Benwell, Newcastle, said anyone making shatter needed to 'think again' before more lives are lost. Mr Laws is believed to have been making the resin-like substance with Reece Galbraith, who was jailed on Wednesday, when they blew up the flat, killing himself and Archie, who was in the flat immediately above. Ms Smith said: 'Archie had his whole life ahead of him. 'His family were upstairs in that flat that that night, not knowing what was beneath them.' The detective said: 'It was utter carnage.' She added: 'Two people lost their lives that night. 'Archie was asleep on the sofa when the explosion happened. 'Jason was part of the production of that cannabis. 'Please, let this be a warning for anyone who wants to start doing this dangerous production of cannabis oil, to think again.' Ms Smith said experts quickly ruled out a natural gas leak and searches of the debris established how the explosion was caused by a build up of the large quantities of butane gas used to make the shatter, which is also known as butane honey oil. Ms Smith explained that this is a highly concentrated form of cannabis. To make it, criminals wash over the cannabis flower with butane gas in a vacuum and it comes out as a liquid. The liquid is then heated in an oven, to remove the butane smell and taste, before it is melted down again and mixed with gelatine, or sweets. This is then put into moulds to make a toffee-like resin to sell on the streets, or the oil itself can be used in vapes, the detective explained. The senior officer said: 'It's highly, highly dangerous. 'I urge anyone who even wants to think about doing this – either making it, producing it, selling it – to think again. 'Cannabis shatters lives, and it has in this instance.' Ms Smith said: 'What they were doing that night was so, so dangerous, with no respect for the community, for the people who lived around that area – total disregard for them to make money through cannabis. 'And I urge people, if they know of this happening in their community, they know that this is happening within their neighbourhoods, to contact the police or contact Crimestoppers.' The officer urged the public to look out for anyone hoarding or discarding butane canisters, or going into properties with ovens, vacuums or odd-shaped equipment. She said: 'Now that we know what's happened, I hope this is a stark reality check to anyone who is using cannabis or producing it, to stop and think about what you do.' The senior officer said the incident had 'a huge impact on that area, and I think probably a lasting impact on that area'. Reece Galbraith was arrested in April last year for alleged possession of drugs and was under investigation when the explosion happened. He was badly burned and went to hospital for a number of weeks, the detective said. Asked if Galbraith understood the enormity of what he had done, Ms Smith said: 'I really hope he does. 'Archie's family will never be the same. 'The community in Benwell, and those people who have been displaced from their homes with nothing, will never be the same.' Asked about Jason Laws's involvement, she said: 'Due to the evidence that we collated as part of the investigation, he would have been a suspect in this investigation if he had survived.'
Sky News
14-05-2025
- Sky News
Drug dealer jailed after killing two, including seven-year-old boy, in cannabis lab explosion in Newcastle
A drug dealer who admitted to manslaughter after a house explosion, caused by gas canisters used to make cannabis sweets, has been jailed. Reece Galbraith, 33, admitted to manslaughter over the deaths of Archie York, seven, and Jason "Jay" Laws, 35, after the blast in Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, on 16 October 2024. The former construction worker, who was also badly injured in the explosion, has been sentenced to 14 years. Six properties divided into two flats each were completely destroyed in the explosion, which led to a major emergency services response. Archie was in bed asleep when the blast ripped through the home he shared with parents Katherine and Robbie and his baby brother Finley. Northumbria Police said Laws was also involved in the production of drugs at Galbraith's flat, where they made cannabis concentrates - known as "shatter" or "butane honey oil" - in a highly dangerous process. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
