Father is jailed after blowing up his flat while making super strong cannabis

A Father-of-three who blew up his flat while making super strength cannabis using butane gas has been jailed for 54 months.

Carl Anderson, 40, from Glasgow, was badly burned in the explosion at Sorn Street, Dalmarnock, Glasgow, which caused other people living in the tenement building to be evacuated.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Anderson lit a cigarette while attempting to produce butane honey oil from cannabis in his home.

Prosecutor Isla Davie QC said: “The explosion in the living room was of sufficient force to blow out the window and distort the living room door.

“It was recorded that glass from the rear windows of the building had travelled up to 25 metres in the blast.”

Anderson suffered extensive burns to his arms, face, head and body. When police found him in his mother’s home nearby he claimed that he had been fixing a motorbike in his flat, lit a cigarette and the explosion happened.

In court, Anderson admitted culpably and recklessly engaging in the production of butane honey oil and causing an explosion at Flat 0/1, 18 Sorn Street on September 24, 2018. He also admitted attempting to produce butane honey oil.

Judge Lord Burns told Anderson: “You carried out a procedure, which was obviously a dangerous one, in what you accept was a dangerous fashion.

“You caused extensive damage and danger to your neighbours. This was plainly some form of commercial operation, or would have been if you finished the operation.”

Fire investigators found canisters of butane gas and 36 cannabis plants in Anderson’s flat, along with 3.2 kilos of herbal cannabis. The cost of repairing the damage was £93,823.07.

Defence counsel John Mcelroy said: “He was overpowered by the effects of butane gas and lit a cigarette. It was absolute stupidity.”