A drug user blew up his Hucknall flat and put his neighbours in danger during a botched attempt to make a powerful illegal substance.
Sean Page, aged 36, was attempting to produce an enhanced form of cannabis oil by cooking the drug in liquid butane.
Neighbouring residents were evacuated after the explosion at a block of flats in Chatsworth Drive, Hucknall, which blew out windows and caused significant structural damage.
It is believed that the blast occurred when one of the three men present in the flat lit a cigarette – igniting highly flammable gasses that had gathered in the small flat.
Nobody was injured in the blast on 15 July 2021.
Page later admitted to producing a Class B drug, telling police they were for personal use to help alleviate several medical problems.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (18 August) he was jailed for a total of two years and nine months after being convicted of criminal damage by recklessly endangering life and production of a Class B drug.
Detective Constable Adam Penn, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Page could very easily have caused serious injury to himself or others during this reckless and incredibly dangerous experiment.
“The windows in his property were sent flying during the blast and it was merely good fortune that no one was passing by at the time.
“Such was the force of the blast that significant structural damage was also caused to the building which necessitated very costly repairs.
“I hope this incident serves as a warning to others about the potential consequences of producing illegal drugs at home.”
Mansfield 103.2 Afternoon News - 221124
