Scaffolder Acquitted After Heater Explosion Causes Severe Burns at Suffolk Pub
A scaffolder has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm after a tabletop heater erupted into a fireball at a Suffolk pub, leaving two women with horrific burns during a post-lockdown gathering.
Dramatic Incident at Kings Head Pub
Dale Carter, 30, claimed he was simply attempting to refuel the outdoor heater when it exploded in flames at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk. The incident occurred on April 24, 2021, as friends gathered in the car park seating area during what was described as a cold evening.
April Charlesworth, who was celebrating her 28th birthday, and her cousin Ashleigh Charlesworth each suffered serious burns to their face, chest and hands in the fiery blast. The court heard how Carter created a one-foot ball of flames when he first poured ethanol from a bottle onto the box-like heater while it was still alight.
Prosecution and Defence Arguments
Prosecutor Dingle Clark accepted that Carter had not deliberately set out to injure anyone but argued he had been recklessly 'fooling around' and 'showing off' when he squirted fuel into the open heater. Clark suggested Carter did so twice because his first attempt had created an impressive ball of flame.
However, Carter maintained that his only intention had been to replenish the fuel in the heater as it was running low and the flame was almost extinguished. He denied two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, and a jury took just over an hour to unanimously find him not guilty following a four-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
Severity of Injuries and Hospital Treatment
The court heard that Ashleigh Charlesworth, a former children's nurse, spent 17 days in hospital and was put on a ventilator after her airway started to swell. She required skin grafts as a result of her injuries. April Charlesworth, a videographer, was treated in hospital for 11 days and continued attending hospital appointments for nearly a month after her discharge.
Recorder Nicola Fitches ruled that jurors should only be told that both prosecution and defence agreed the women, now aged 32, had suffered 'serious bodily harm', with pictures of their injuries not shown to the jury.
Witness Accounts and Court Proceedings
Several witnesses provided accounts of the incident. April's brother, Sam Charlesworth, claimed he had warned Carter about the danger of a fireball and joked about 'not setting anybody on fire'. He described how Carter had waved his hand through the flame twice, saying he was 'Iron Man'.
Mark Lawrence, April's boyfriend at the time, told the court he saw Carter put fuel on the heater twice - the first time creating a foot-high flame that disappeared, and the second time causing the bottle to explode and turn into 'a rocket'.
Danny Wheeler, another witness, said that after Carter squirted fuel on the heater the second time, the lid and end of the bottle were blown off, resulting in a fire which set light to Carter's hair and people's clothes.
Carter's Testimony and Emotional Impact
Giving evidence, Carter admitted he could recall earlier passing his hand over the flame and remarking that 'it was not putting out much heat'. He described how he stood up and poured the bottle on the white fabric in the middle of the heater, saying: 'It was almost instantly in my face. I remember walking back away from the bench and rubbing my face to get it off. Every time I took my hand off, it was relighting again.'
Carter, who needed hospital treatment for burns to his face, said he was initially unaware of April and Ashleigh being hurt but could remember firefighters pouring water on his face and putting a mask on him. Following the incident, he experienced 'a massive feeling of guilt' and felt 'lost' and 'not myself'.
Procedural History and Final Outcome
The trial heard that the Crown Prosecution Service had initially decided Carter should not be charged due to insufficient evidence and no 'realistic prospect' of conviction. However, the matter was investigated again after April and Ashleigh asked for the earlier decision to be reviewed, leading to charges being brought.
Carter, of Colchester, Essex, gasped in relief in the dock and held his hands in a prayer gesture as the verdict was announced. Recorder Fitches told him: 'You have been found not guilty on both counts of the indictment so you are now discharged on these matters. This means that, unless there are any further matters of which I am unaware, you are free to leave the court.'
Carter declined to comment as he left the court following the verdict.
