Four other people were hurt in the explosion in Heysham, Lancashire. 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. He was also abusive when drunk and on drugs, as were his visitors. Sharon and Darren Greenham were badly wounded in the blast that killed two-year-old George Hinds. Mr Hinds delivered his own statement, placing on the stand a pillow which belonged to his boy and was recovered from the rubble. Comments have been closed on this article. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. News you can trust since 1837. . They denied damaging a gas meter between January and May 2021 and the theft of gas between March and May 2021. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Read about our approach to external linking. The damage caused in the explosion affected 55 properties and the value of just those who answered police enquiries was in excess of half a million pounds. "This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. He instead awarded 15% credit and rubbished a contention that serious injuries suffered by Greenham could be considered as mitigation. Darren Greenham, 45, had cut a pipe to 'make a bit of money'. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. He wrote: Words cant describe what the last week has done to me and Vicki. One on occasion, the fire spread to a border fence and another time smoke could be seen two miles away. In a statement, George's mother Vicki Studholme said she felt "unsafe" in her home because of Greenham, a "neighbour from hell" who she said made threats of violence towards her, her husband and their son. A co-defendant, Paul Marsh, was accused of damaging the gas meter in Greenhams home to cut bills. It is against this background that they learnt the circumstances of George's death, the judge explained. 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. "He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". It left two neighbouring terraced houses severely damaged and a further 55 properties in the area were also affected. Shockingly, this included calling George a little ginger c***. The judge said: "The only conclusion is the defendant was aware of these signs of danger or wasn't aware because of his self-inflicted impairment through alcohol and drugs". Criminal probe after police reveal explosion that killed Footballer kicks homeless woman's begging cup over then Britain's stately home owners living in fear of the robbery King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Shocking video shows machete fight in broad daylight, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Moment supermarket cashier is attacked at work in New York, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Do not sell or share my personal information. A man has been sentenced for causing the death of toddler George Arthur Hinds who tragically died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham. Love you so so so so much x. A Gannett Company. He said it has "placed a strain on their relationship, how could it not". 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. 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. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. A two-year-old boy died after a "neighbour from hell" caused a gas explosion by cutting a pipe to sell for scrap metal, a court has heard. Speaking outside court, Det Ch Insp Jane Webb said: "Greenham is a purely selfish, self-centred, ignorant man whose blind stupidity of thinking that he could sell gas pipes to just make a bit of money was completely reckless with no regard for anybody's safety.". Pictured here during his loutish days which he spent terrorising neighbours on Heysham's Mallowdale Avenue, Darren Greenham today (October 5) cut a different figure as he sat in the dock at Preston Crown Court. 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. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's The blast was likely to have happened 20 to 40 minutes after they were cut and there would have been a strong smell of gas and an audible noise before that, the report said. Credit: Lancashire Police George's father Stephen Hinds . Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. "We have no words to describe how we feel and just want time to ourselves to come to terms with what has happened. A police investigation found the cause of the explosion to be a gas pipe which had been cut. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? and Darren Greenham, 44, both of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster, were charged with manslaughter and theft. His dad Stephen said his family had been "devastated" by Greenham, "just for selling . Sharon and Darren Greenham were badly wounded and had to be pulled from the rubble. ", The family were praised for their dignity by Judge Robert Altham. Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut the pipe at his home on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021. Mr Hinds said: "By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few quid I have lost my son, my absolute world.". Lancashire Police said in a statement: 'Detectives, assisted by gas experts, have been carrying out a fingertip search of the scene following the explosion and have now identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe which had been cut inside No. It was caused by Greenham cutting live gas pipes and left George dead and several others hurt. . A married couple appeared in court this morning to deny unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion. They say they now identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe which had been cut inside the home. 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. Darren Greenham and his wife Sharon Greenham (Facebook/ Darren Greenham) According to the outlet, locals have described the impact to be "like a bomb going off" and dirt and debris covered . Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school. Darren Greenham, 44, of Bowness Road, Lancaster, admitted manslaughter, criminal damage and theft at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday. Darren Greenham will spend 15 years in prison for causing the death of George Hinds, Want all the latest cases and top crime stories from Lancs Live? Greenham had cut a gas pipe in his own house while drunk and under the influence of drugs in the early hours of the morning and planned to sell the pipework, the court heard. "This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. He adds that expert evidence explained the smell and sound of the gas leak would have been obvious. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. A child's toy covered in debris was seen lying amid the wrecked homes' rubble after the two couples were pulled from the ruins. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to HP10 9TY. Today, Darren Greenham, 45, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to George's . George's parents, who live in neighbouring 18 Mallowdale Avenue, have since been discharged from hospital. Something went wrong, please try again later. A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a gas explosion at a house in Heysham in which a toddler died. Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter, damaging a gas . 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. ", 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. 'People have really pulled together as a community, it's really humbling. Darren Greenham, 45, caused the death of two-year-old George Hinds in a gas explosion in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021, after cutting the copper pipes to sell as scrap. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. 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. The explosion at 2.36am on 16 May 2021 completely destroyed the defendant's council property in Heysham, Lancashire and damaged 55 others. Darren Greenham, 44, admitted manslaughter and theft offences after George Hinds perished in a fireball that ripped through his family's home in Heysham, Lancashire, on May 16 last year. A man who cut a gas pipe to sell for scrap, causing a blast in which a two-year-old boy died, has been jailed. '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 George's, which I know means a lot to his parents. The house, the car, my possessions can all be replaced but George never can be. The judge listed anti-social behaviour including frequent bonfires, which prompted complaints seven or eight times a year. 'There is a lot of goodwill in Morecambe.'. Detectives, assisted by gas experts, have been carrying out a fingertip search of the scene following the explosion. Recorder Robert Altham said it was a miracle no-one else was killed, adding the defendant was likely unaware of the obvious smell and sound of the gas leak due to being intoxicated. The tears havent stopped. "Never, ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life.". His family lived in the neighbouring property in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire. In a statement read to the court when the sentencing hearing started on Wednesday, Ms Studholme said: After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, are accused of the manslaughter of George Arthur Hinds. 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. The "neighbour from hell" Darren's family lived in the adjacent property in . Stephen posted a heartfelt tribute to his little boy on Facebook, according to The Sun. George Hinds died when Darren Greenham, described as a "neighbour from hell", cut a gas pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021, . For the first time, they had to borrow money and are still living in a caravan. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. . Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, entered not guilty pleas to a charge of manslaughter over the death . 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". Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. 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. George Hinds died after next-door neighbour Darren Greenham cut a copper pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in the early hours of May 16 last year, as part of an attempt to sell scrap metal. Mum who shared contents of 3.09 Too Good To Go Morrisons box branded 'shameful' for buying 'out of date food', "Thats totally not acceptable, never heard anything so shameful in my life", Camera Club: Show us your best dog photos for the chance to be crowned March's winner, Share your pictures in Lancs Live's monthly photo competition, Should dogs have to be kept on leads in public spaces? The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) worked hard with Lancashire police to build a strong case including eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence linking Greenham to the grinder and copper pipe in the property and CCTV evidence showing the explosion and the movements of the occupants of 20 Mallowdale Avenue. Officers found two houses collapsed, and a third property had suffered 'serious damage'. George's mum Vicky Hinds was trapped for two hours before being pulled from the rubble. Heather Brandwood, manager of the Hurley Flyer pub, set up a GoFundMe appeal after seeing the explosion on the news and also helped collect donations of basics including clothing and toiletries in the aftermath of the explosion. Darren Greenham, 45, had cut a pipe to 'make a bit of money'. Preston Crown Court heard how Greenhamcut a gas pipe in his own property with an angle grinder, planning to steal the pipework. 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. 5 Toddler George Hinds died in the blast, which destroyed two homes and damaged another on Mallowdale Avenue on 16 May 2021. She added: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. His wife Sharon Greenham, 51, is due to stand trial on October 4 charged with the same . 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. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. To describe Darren as the neighbour from hell would be a massive understatement. Darren Greenham, 45, 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. A gas blast which left a toddler dead was caused by a severed pipe in . I can't describe in words how much I miss him. George Hinds died after neighbour Darren Greenham cut a pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in 2021. Appearing in the dock at Preston Crown Court today (October 5), Darren Greenham, 44, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to George's manslaughter. In a tribute issued after the youngster's death, his "devastated" parents Vicky and Stephen said: "He was so precious to us. Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years for causing the death of 2-year-old George Hinds 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. He instead awarded 15 % credit and rubbished a contention that serious injuries suffered by cutting... The Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired ' callback event and damaged another on Mallowdale Avenue,,... 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