'You killed my son,' mother sobs as cannabis dealer who caused explosion sentenced

A drug dealer who caused the death of a seven-year-old boy in an explosion has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

- KATIE DICKINSON TOM WILKINSON

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 16 October. The explosion killed 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 yesterday 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 in 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 had to be been demolished.