Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. . Man admits killing boy, 2, in gas explosion that left street looking like a 'war zone'. Pictured here during his loutish days which he spent terrorising neighbours on Heyshams Mallowdale Avenue, Darren Greenham today (October 5) cut a different figure as he sat in the dock at Preston Crown Court. One neighbour described Greenham as an "accident waiting to happen". October 4, 2022, 12:51 PM. "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. That night, while high on drink and drugs, he took an angle grinder to copper pipes around the house unaware that the gas supply had not been switched off. Appearing in the dock at Preston Crown Court today, Darren Greenham, 44, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to George's manslaughter. Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter, damaging a gas . A couple accused of unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion have denied manslaughter. 2023 BBC. 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. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record 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. Sentencing him for manslaughter at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday, The Honourary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham said: Mr Greenham was a selfish and disruptive neighbour. The victims' father held a Paw Patrol toy in memory of his son as he watched the sentencing from the public gallery. His reckless actions caused the . A 52-year-old woman from Lancashire will face a trial over an allegation of theft of gas at a later date. Darren Greenham made the lives of his neighbours a "misery", George's parents paid tribute to their beautiful little angel, Emergency workers at the scene of a gas explosion, The explosion damaged a total of 55 properties, Greenham and partner Sharon were left badly wounded following the blast, Woman appears in court charged with manslaughter after boy, 2, killed in gas explosion, Couple charged with manslaughter after 'precious' boy, 2, killed in gas explosion, Toddler killed in gas explosion remembered with touching Paw Patrol themed convoy, Heartbroken dad asks why didnt it happen to me? after boy, 2, killed in gas explosion, First picture of couple pulled from rubble after gas explosion kills toddler. 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. 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. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. 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. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. ', Stephen later shared a video of him reading his son a book about animals with the caption: 'My little boy. 'There are a lot of people who want to do good, but they don't know how to go about doing it, so by putting something in place, they always rise to the challenge. His reckless actions caused the death of a completely innocent toddler, destruction to several homes and 100,000s worth of damage. I can't describe in words how much I miss him. "He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ", Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? 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. SIGN UP for our newsletter : Get the latest stories delivered straight to you "Never, ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life.". 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. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "Darren Greenham is a truly selfish and wicked man whose main motivation in the build-up to the fatal explosion was financial greed. Darren and Sharon Greenham remain in hospital after the blast at their home on Sunday, May 16, which caused devastating damage to three homes. "neighbour from hell" caused a gas explosion which killed a two-year-old boy after cutting a gas pipe to sell for scrap metal, a court has heard. Nothing I can say or do will bring him back, I really wish I could. In emotional victim personal statements, Georges parents Stephen Hinds and Vicky Studholme told the court of their heartbreak and pain suffered at the hands of Greenham. Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. Georges heartbroken father has reportedly posted a filmed tribute on Facebook of his son reading a book about animals, next to the caption: My little boy. "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. It is against this background that they learnt the circumstances of George's death, the judge explained. George Hinds was killed in the blast which destroyed two homes and damaged another on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, at 02:45 BST on 16 May 2021. A married couple appeared in court this morning to deny unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion. Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, entered not guilty pleas to a charge of manslaughter over the death . Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. The gas meter was also found to have been bypassed so he could steal gas. George's parents, who described him as a "beautiful little angel", continued to be supported by specially trained officers, police said. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. On Friday, Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of George Hinds. What's he waiting for? Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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", DWP state pension contributions will 'still be considered' after looming Government deadline, Phone lines have been busy as people have taken action to top up their contributions, Preston thug strangled his own cousin before his mum punched him back, John Wilcock then threatened to kill her if she didn't retract her statement, 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? Emergency services were called to the scene in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire , in the . 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.". 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. The force said it was now treating the probe as a criminal investigation and inquiries continue into how the pipe came to be cut. 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. In his basis of plea, he said that he believed the gas had been turned off by Marsh. George's parents were taken to hospital but have since been discharged and are recovering as they reel from . 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The judge listed anti-social behaviour including frequent bonfires, which prompted complaints seven or eight times a year. 20 came to be cut and those enquiries are complex and lengthy. 20, Mallowdale Avenue. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? . The court heard how at the time of cutting the pipes, Greenham was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. "This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. Joanna White, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North West said: This was a tragic case where a young boy lost his life through the reckless and dangerous actions of Darren Greenham, who cut the pipes for financial gain. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 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". I will never forgive him. 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.
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