Benwell blast killer could see sentence increased after review

KILLER drug dealer Reece Galbraith could be locked up for longer.

- SOPHIE DOUGHTY

The 33-year-old was jailed for 14 years last month after admitting manslaughter in connection with the explosion that claimed the life of seven-year-old Archie York.

But Galbraith could now be facing more time behind bars after a request to have his sentence reviewed was accepted.

The killer's jail term has been referred to the Attorney General’s Office under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme (ULS).

The scheme allows victims of crime, members of the public, and the Crown Prosecution Service to ask for certain crown court sentences to be reviewed if they believe they are too soft.

The Attorney General's Office then has 28 days from the date the original sentence was passed to decide whether the sentence should be referred to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed.

Galbraith’s sentence is currently “under consideration” by the office.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the fatal explosion was caused by a dangerous cannabis lab Galbraith set up in the flat below where Archie lived on Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle.