Nottingham builder spared jail after gas explosion injures worker

A Nottingham builder has avoided an immediate spell behind bars after his failures resulted in a gas explosion leaving a worker with burns so serious, he has been unable to work since.

Barry Newman, the sole trader of Foster Brother Builders, was given a 12-month suspended sentence and told to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Newman, 58, hired a Nottingham man to carry out refurbishment work at a property in Bulwell. As part of the job, he placed a faulty portable gas heater connected to a propane (LPG) cylinder in the cellar to dry out damp.

On 22 November 2022, a gas leak from the heater caused a violent explosion, leaving the 51-year-old contractor with severe burns to his hands, legs, face, and scalp. Debris was blasted onto the street and nearby pavement, endangering members of the public.

Barry Newman of The Quay, Beeston Marina, Nottingham pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. At Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 19 June 2025 he was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work in the community, and required to pay costs of £2,000.

HSE Inspector Roy Poulter said: “This gas explosion has left one man unable to work due to the seriousness of the injuries sustained and it could have easily resulted in someone losing their life.

“This case should serve as a strong reminder to those in the building trade on the dangers of working with gas and the need to assess the risk, and just how serious both HSE and the courts take failures like this.