Scaffolder Found Not Guilty After Pub Fireball Leaves Women With Horror Burns
A scaffolder from Essex who joked about being 'Iron Man' before a devastating pub fireball has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to two women who suffered life-changing injuries in the incident.
The Incident at King's Head Pub
Dale Carter, 30, was accused of recklessly pouring ethanol fuel onto a lit tabletop heater at the King's Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk, in April 2021. The resulting explosion injured cousins April and Ashleigh Charlesworth, who were celebrating April's 28th birthday on what was their first night out following Covid lockdown restrictions.
The women suffered severe burns to their faces, chests, and hands in the incident that witnesses described as creating a 'rocket' effect when the fuel bottle ignited.
Court Proceedings and Evidence
At Ipswich Crown Court, prosecutor Dingle Clark accepted that Carter had not deliberately tried to injure anyone but claimed he had been "fooling around" and "showing off" when he squirted fuel into the open heater. The prosecution argued that Carter poured fuel twice because the first attempt created an impressive fiery display.
Carter denied these claims, insisting his only intention was to refuel the heater as it was running out of fuel. He told the court he could recall passing his hand over the flame earlier and commenting that "it was not putting out much heat."
Witness Accounts of the Tragedy
April's brother, Sam Charlesworth, told the court he had initially retrieved the tabletop heater and ethanol bottle from his mother's house nearby. He claimed he had warned Carter about the danger of creating a fireball and said Carter had waved his hand through the flame twice, joking he was 'Iron Man.'
Another witness, Danny Wheeler, described how 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.
Rebecca Robertson, who was standing nearby, described seeing "a tall flame" and then noticing "one of the girls had flames to her face and hands." She recounted how Ashleigh was screaming "Help me, help me" while trying to take hold of her hand, revealing badly burned skin.
Severity of Injuries Sustained
Both women suffered what the court described as "serious bodily harm." Ashleigh, a former children's nurse, spent 17 days in hospital after the incident and was placed on a ventilator when her airway began to swell. She later required skin grafts to treat her injuries.
April was treated in hospital for 11 days and continued attending follow-up appointments for several weeks. Carter also suffered burns to his face and required hospital treatment following the incident.
Defence Arguments and Verdict
Michael Epstein, representing Carter, described the incident as a 'freak accident' during questioning of witnesses. Carter maintained throughout that he was simply trying to top up the heater's fuel as it was going out, not attempting to create a spectacle.
The jury took just one hour and 20 minutes to unanimously find Carter not guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm after a four-day trial. Recorder Nicola Fitches told Carter he was "discharged on these matters" and free to leave the court.
Aftermath and Emotional Impact
Carter's ex-girlfriend Sophie Brown, who was in the pub at the time, described how the incident had left him "broken." She said: "He didn't want to go out. He was very sad and down, and obviously in pain."
Ms Robertson recalled seeing Carter on an ambulance stretcher after the incident, where he told her: "Oh Becky. They will all hate me, tell them I'm sorry."
The court heard that the Crown Prosecution Service had initially decided there was insufficient evidence to charge Carter, but the case was reviewed after the injured women asked for the decision to be reconsidered.
Carter gasped in relief and clasped his hands together as the not guilty verdict was delivered, bringing an end to the legal proceedings surrounding the tragic pub incident.
