A man who endangered the lives of a woman and children at a house in Tullibody by causing an explosion while making cannabis oil was last week jailed for 18 months.
Craig Middleton had admitted a charge of culpably and recklessly attempting to produce what is known as butane honey oil at the address in the town on February 4, 2021.
The 33-year-old had applied butane gas to cannabis within a plastic bottle which ignited, causing an explosion.
A fire then took hold in the kitchen of the property endangering the lives of the woman and four children.
Middleton – of Knowefaulds Road, Tullibody – further admitted a charge of producing honey oil on the same date.
However, a not guilty plea to a charge of being concerned in the supply of the class-B drug was accepted by the Crown.
When Middleton appeared for sentencing at Stirling Sheriff Court last week his agent David Kinloch told Sheriff Keith O’Mahony that he did “not for a second shy away from the gravity of this offence” or his client’s previous convictions.
Middleton, he added, was a “habitual and excessive” user of cannabis and he described the attempt to produce the cannabis derivative as “foolhardy”.
Middleton had put people at risk and had also sustained “fairly serious” burns to himself which required spending some time in hospital for treatment.
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Mr Kinloch insisted that there would be no repetition of this type of offence.
Middleton was in full-time employment as a dump truck driver and supplemented this income by repairing motorcycles.
The solicitor recognised that a custodial sentence could be imposed, but pointed out other disposals were available to allow the sheriff to punish Middleton including unpaid work, supervision, and a curfew (tag).
Sheriff O’Mahony however told Middleton that everything that could be offered in mitigation had been offered and there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.
He jailed Middleton for 18 months in cumulo - reduced from two years – to reflect the timing of the two guilty pleas.
A Proceeds of Crime hearing was also set for June 7.
