'People have really pulled together as a community, it's really humbling. She said: "I do feel that although we reported this countless times we have been let down by the council and the police, and the death of my beautiful baby boy could have been avoided.". 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. Details of the case were laid out at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday (October 4) before Georges parents Stephen Hinds and Vicky Studholme spoke of the devastation and trauma he had caused by killing their little boy. Sentencing him for manslaughter at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday, Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham said: Mr Greenham was a selfish and disruptive neighbour. Mr Hinds delivered his own statement, placing on the stand a pillow which belonged to his boy and was recovered from the rubble. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Read about our approach to external linking. She said: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. It is not know what caused the ignition, but the quantity of gas was so great that only a light switch would have been needed. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The judge rejected the defences request for 25% credit, noting the guilty pleas came six month after the first hearing and six weeks before the trial was due to begin. Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. Darren Greenham, 45, used an angle grinder to cut the pipe in the early hours of May 16 last year, causing the huge explosion which killed George Hinds, whose family lived in the neighbouring property in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire, Preston Crown Court heard on Tuesday. The subsequent explosion killed George Hinds, whose family lived next door. They are "truly remarkable people", he said. Greenham, who showed no emotion in the dock, was given concurrent sentences of one month for the charges of damaging the meter and theft of gas. The subsequent explosion killed George Hinds, whose family lived . A gas investigator from the health and safety executive carried out an extensive investigation into the explosion and confirmed that a main 22mm pipe under the floorboard at the top of the stairs had been deliberately cut and this had caused the explosion between 20 and 42 minutes after the gas began to escape. George Hinds was two-years-old when he died in the blast in May 2021. George's parents were taken to hospital but have since been discharged and are recovering as they reel from . Over a two day sentencing hearing, the court heard how Greenham had been a nightmare neighbour for years with late night DIY, loud music and abusive rants at those living by. A man has been sentenced today for causing the death of toddler George Arthur Hinds who tragically died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham. George Arthur Hinds died in the explosion which destroyed his Heysham home in the early hours of May 16, 2021. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. 5. 'My little angel George sleep tight son, mummy and daddy is with you always. Sign up. Read about our approach to external linking. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The sentencing is in relation to Operation Kelton, the fatal gas explosion in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham on May 16, 2021, which . A man who cut a gas pipe in his own property, causing an explosion which killed two-year-old George Arthur Hinds, has been jailed for 15 years. "This included sickening abuse and insults directed at his neighbours, setting bonfires in his garden and dousing items in petrol, regular late-night DIY activities and more. She asked me to because it was always me that put him to bed at night. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Mr Hinds told the court yesterday: "By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few quid I have lost my son, my absolute world.". He said: "He had been removing every bit of pipework he could for weeks before, seemingly because he knew he was going and he wanted to make what he could from selling it as scrap.". The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. In a statement read to the court when the sentencing hearing started on Wednesday, Ms Studholme said: On May 15, 2021, I went to bed happy and content with my life. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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". We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. ", The family were praised for their dignity by Judge Robert Altham. . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He wrote: Words cant describe what the last week has done to me and Vicki. A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a two-year-old who died in a gas explosion in Lancashire. The drunk and drugged up neighbour whose reckless actions caused a huge gas explosion, killing a two-year-old boy, has been jailed for 15 years. 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Timothy Cray KC, prosecuting, said Greenham had been facing eviction proceedings and had been cutting pipes in the property with the intention of selling them for scrap. A child's toy covered in debris was seen lying amid the wrecked homes' rubble after the two couples were pulled from the ruins. 'Every day this week has been a new challenge and to go from seeing my two-year-old beautiful boy from playing in the garden, to a week later planning his funeral in his new 3ft bed, is unreal. His reckless actions caused the . Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter, damaging a gas . He was also given one month concurrent for theft of gas and damage to a gas meter. . Little did I know this would be taken away by Darren Greenham who irresponsibly decided to cut a gas pipe and cause a gas explosion. Darren Greenham, 45, had cut a pipe to 'make a bit of money'. Following his sentencing, DCI Jane Webb, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: Greenham is a truly selfish and wicked man whose main motivation in the build-up to the fatal explosion was financial greed. A "neighbour from hell" who caused a gas explosion which killed a two-year-old boy after cutting a pipe to sell for scrap metal has been jailed. This is the face of the man whose wicked and selfish actions took the life of a much loved and cherished two-year-old boy. Friday 11 February 2022 15:42, UK Image: George Hinds . 'I would like to thank the community for their help so far and I want to continue to appeal to anyone who may have information which could assist our investigation to come forward and contact us. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. "He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". Lancashire Police said detectives and gas experts had discovered the cause of the explosion was a gas pipe which had been cut inside number 20 Mallowdale Avenue - the home of Darren, 44, and 50-year-old Sharon Greenham. 'Even if you think the information you have is insignificant or irrelevant please tell us and we can be the judge.'. On Tuesday, Mr Hinds told the court: By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few quid I have lost my son, my absolute world.. Darren Greenham was handed 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the gas explosion which killed George Hinds. Darren Greenham confessed to killing George Hinds after causing a gas explosion in Heysham while drunk and high, and all because he wanted to sell the copper piping in his house for 400. 2-year-old George Hinds was killed when an explosion tore through his council house in Heysham, Lancashire after 45-year-old Darren Greenham cut the gas pipes in the hope of selling the copper piping for scrap, Preston Crown Court heard. Two-year-old George Hinds died in the blast in Heysham in May 2021, Darren Greenham boasted to witnesses that he would make 400 to buy a car from the pipework, Two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged in the explosion, George's father said his son was "my absolute world", Det Ch Insp Jane Webb (left) joined George's parents Stephen Hinds and Vicki Studholme outside court. Having considered the weight of evidence against him, Greenham pleaded guilty in August 2022. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. As well as his abusive behaviour towards those living nearby, he would play loud music at night, use drills and hammers and unsociable hours and start out of control bonfires on a frequent basis. On the night of the explosion, Greenham had arranged for the gas supply to be turned off by another person. I would like to thank the community for their help so far and I want to continue to appeal to anyone who may have information which could assist our investigation to come forward and contact us. Two-year-old George Hinds died in a gas explosion after his next-door neighbour Darren Greenham cut a copper pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, on May 16 last year. SIGN UP for our newsletter : Get the latest stories delivered straight to you George's mum was trapped for two hours before she was pulled from the rubble. Two-year-old George Hinds died in the explosion in Heysham, Lancashire, on May 16 last year after Darren Greenham, 45, used an angle grinder to cut the pipe while drunk and under the influence of drugs in the early hours of the morning. 'Enquiries are ongoing into how and why the pipe came to be severed enquiries which are likely to take some considerable time. George Hinds was killed in a gas explosion caused by Darren Greenham, Emergency workers at the scene of the gas explosion in which two-year-old George Hinds died. Peter Glenser KC, defending, said Greenham was sober for the first time in "many, many years" since being in custody awaiting sentence. Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school. 5 An incredible amount of work has been done at the scene in a relatively short space of time and as well as identifying the source of the explosion we have also managed to recover some items of Georges, which I know means a lot to his parents. 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