Boy, 7, killed by gas blast at cannabis factory flat

A BOY of seven was killed in a home explosion caused by criminals using 100 gas canisters to make cannabis sweets in a neighbouring flat.

- By Tom Wilkinson

Reece Galbraith, 33, has admitted the manslaughter of schoolboy Archie York and Jason Laws, 35, who died in the blast in the early hours of October 16.

The explosion wrecked the street, left families homeless and led to a major emergency services response.

Galbraith had previously denied manslaughter and was due to go on trial next month, but appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via a prison videolink to change his pleas to guilty yesterday.

He also admitted possessing and supplying cannabis between November 2023 and October 2024.

Dangerous