Greenham showed no emotion in the dock as he was given concurrent sentences of one month for the charges of damaging the meter and theft of gas. George's father Stephen Hinds clutched a Paw Patrol toy as he watched the sentencing from the public gallery with George's mother, Vicki Studholme, and a number of other neighbours. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, Grants fund learning and land management at Cumbrian farm, Construction of Burnley 11m commercial estate to start in June, Northern lights spotted across South Cumbria, Blackpool and Fylde College defends facebook post about the dissection of a pregnant shark which was branded 'senseless and cruel', Fleetwood Market undergoing 2m upgrade plus 'energy efficient' works, Burnley poacher arrested after speeding near Turf Moor and crashing car containing deer carcass, Human error to blame for deadly train crash, says Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. That person could only be "incompetent at best", Recorder Altham says. Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. George's parents were taken to hospital but have since been discharged and are recovering as they reel from . Read about our approach to external linking. Comments have been closed on this article. We would go and see him every day and hold him. The judge praised George's parents, who have been living in a caravan since the blast, for their dignity and said he shared their "incomprehension" that anyone could put the lives of so many at risk for the sake of stealing "a few lengths of copper piping". 2023 BBC. contact the editor here. Darren Greenham, 44, has been remanded in custody after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and theft offences. "Not just in terms of the untold misery his actions have caused to Georges loved ones and the wider community of Heysham, but also in terms of his abhorrent behaviour in the months and years previous to that fateful morning. Couple Appear In Court Charged With Murdering Elderly Woman & Stealing 14,000, "Neighbour From Hell" Darren Greenham Jailed For Manslaughter After Gas Explosion Killed Toddler, Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years for causing the death of 2-year-old George Hinds, SUBSCRIBE TO GET EVERY STORY TO YOUR MAILBOX. Georges father Stephen Hinds clutched a Paw Patrol toy as he watched the sentencing from the public gallery with Georges mother, Vicki Studholme, and a number of other neighbours. ", Anyone with any information should contact police on 101 quoting log 0180 of May 16th or on the Major Incident Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020121W04-PO1. Little George Hinds died in the gas explosion after being trapped in the rubble Credit: MEN Media. Detectives said he was intent on selling the cut pipes for scrap metal and had boasted to witnesses that he would make 400 to buy a car. ', Pictured: the ruins of two terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham completely destroyed by an explosion, The scene on the following morning at Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham after a gas explosion completely destroyed both houses, Pictured: The homes in Heysham (pictured in September 2016) where married couple Darren and Sharon Greenham lived (right) and Stephen Hinds and Vicki Studholme lived with their two-year-old son George (left) in Mallowdale Avenue, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Chaos at schools after pupils protest over uniform and toilet policies, TikTok video shows Unity Academy Blackpool pupils protesting, Mallorca sees significant snowfall in unseasonable freak weather, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Police: Urgent search for Constance Marten's missing baby, Steve Baker: Brexit 'cost me my mental health. Wed 5 Oct 2022 09.22 EDT. Lancashire Constabulary were called to reports of an explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, at around 2.40am on May 16 2021. . Two-year-old George Hinds died in the blast in May 2021, Emergency workers at the scene of the gas explosion last May, Two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged in the explosion. Please report any comments that break our rules. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. "Even if you think the information you have is insignificant or irrelevant please tell us and we can be the judge. "Never, ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life.". "Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. . Parents Vicky Studholme, 42, and Stephen Hinds, 41, also survived the blast at their Heysham, Lancashire home in the early hours of May 16 that cost their beloved son's life. His dad Stephen said his family had been "devastated" by Greenham, "just for selling . Detective Chief Insp Jane Webb, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost remain with George's family and loved ones at this time, as well as those others affected by this incident. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine. 'Our focus now is on trying to establish how and why the pipe inside No. A total of 55 properties in the area were damaged. In March 2021, the gas meter in the property was badly damaged and soon after copper pipes could be seen all over the house having been removed "seemingly at random". He was also given one month concurrent for theft of gas and damage to a gas meter. Four other people were hurt in the explosion in Heysham, Lancashire. Stephen posted a heartfelt tribute to his little boy on Facebook, according to The Sun. And most importantly a life lost. Officers found two houses collapsed, and a third property had suffered 'serious damage'. Greenham, 45, who lived next door to the Hinds family on Mallowdale Avenue, was described as a neighbour from hell by Ms Studholme. News. He said Greenham, who was dependent on alcohol and drugs, made the lives of his neighbours a "misery" and would play music until the early hours and insult George. Mr Hinds delivered his own statement, placing on the stand a pillow which belonged to his boy and was recovered from the rubble. Greenham returned to the dock on Wednesday dressed in a grey tracksuit and stared emotionless as he was jailed for manslaughter, criminal damage, and theft of gas. Two-year-old died in explosion after Darren Greenham cut pipe in Heysham home while intoxicated. Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut the pipe at his home on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021. Why didnt it happen to me and keep him playing here with his mum? Vicki Studholme, George's mother, who had previously referred to Greenham as the "neighbour from hell", was also in attendance at the sentencing hearing. Greenham, who suffered a serious head injury and lost much of the use of his right hand in the explosion, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas in August. It is against this background that they learnt the circumstances of George's death, the judge explained. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. Timothy Cray KC, prosecuting, said that at the time of the explosion the council was considering taking eviction proceedings after a number of complaints about Greenham's behaviour. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Both are due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court on 4 October. Darren Greenham, 45, of Lancaster's Ambleside Avenue, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Preston Crown Court. A couple have denied unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion. Appearing in the dock at Preston Crown Court earlier this week (5th October), Darren Greenham, 44, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to George's manslaughter. A third defendant, Paul Marsh, 54, from Heysham, also pleaded not guilty to damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. "We have no words to describe how we feel and just want time to ourselves to come to terms with what has happened. One on occasion, the fire spread to a border fence and another time smoke could be seen two miles away. Something went wrong, please try again later. Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut pipes in his Mallowdale Avenue council house in Heysham, hoping to sell the parts to a scrap merchant to raise a few hundred pounds to buy a car. A heartbreaking tribute shared by father Stephen Hinds on his Facebook page after his son's death last Sunday, Emergency workers at the scene where a cordon was put in place on Mallowdale Ave Heysham, on Sunday May 16, More than 51,000 has been raised by the community in Morecambe after the blast which killed two-year-old George Hinds. Something went wrong, please try again later. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. He was given 15 years and two months for manslaughter and one month each for the other two charges, to run concurrently. Sharon Greenham, 52, also of Bowness Road, is also charged with manslaughter, criminal damage and theft and has denied the offences. She added: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. The force said it was now treating the probe as a criminal investigation and inquiries continue into how the pipe came to be cut. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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