Man sentenced for bypassing electricity meter before teenager's fire death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 14:51 · Archive

Calvin Smith was given a suspended sentence for bypassing an electricity meter at a North Shields house where teenager Leah Casson died in a fire in January 2023.

Calvin Smith, 38, of North Shields, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for bypassing an electricity meter at the property where Leah Casson, 18, died in a house fire in January 2023.

Smith had openly advertised on Facebook his ability and proficiency at bypassing meters, posting 'Beat the cost of living crisis, free electricity, get your meter wired' and saying it was 'free of charge and done in ten minutes'. He tampered with the pre-paid Utilita meter at Vicarage Street between August and November 2022, allowing the occupant to use hundreds of pounds of electricity for free.

Smith was initially charged with manslaughter but prosecutors dropped the allegation after expert reports could not 'realistically establish' whether the meter was responsible for the fire. Justice Cotter, sentencing, told Smith he was 'not Robin Hood' and that illegally tampering with electricity meters left people and property at risk. Smith received a 16-week jail sentence suspended for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work.

How it is being reported

• Man who tampered with meter before fire sentencedCalvin Smith is given a suspended sentence for bypassing an electricity meter in Leah Casson's home.BBC Tyne And Wear · 22 Oct, 13:48
• North Shields man sentenced for bypassing electricity at house where Leah Casson died in fireCalvin Smith, of North Shields, cleared of responsibility for Leah Casson's death, had openly advertised his ability to bypass metersChronicleLive · 22 Oct, 13:21

In this story: Calvin Smith · Leah Casson · North Shields · Danielle Johnson · Newcastle Crown Court

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