He wrote: Words cant describe what the last week has done to me and Vicki. Credit: PA Images. He died before he could be brought to justice. On May 16, 2021, at about 2.40 a.m., emergency services were called to Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, following a gas explosion that claimed the life of two-year-old George Hinds. 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. Staff arrange donations at the Hurley Flyer pub in Heysham after a gas blast that killed a young child and destroyed three houses. George's mum was trapped for two hours before she was pulled from the rubble. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Little George died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham, near Morecambe, in May 2021. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The court heard how at the time of cutting the pipes, Greenham was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. In the early hours of May 16, 2021, 45-year-old Darren Greenham cut the pipe using an angle grinder, which caused the huge explosion that killed the little boy, George Hinds. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. . 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. The "neighbour from hell" Darren's family lived in the adjacent property in . Darren, 44, and Sharon Greenham, 50, remain in hospital after a gas explosion at their home in Heysham Police believe gas pipe was cut in their home causing a devastating explosion which destroyed . Paul Marsh, 54, from Heysham also previously appeared in court but has since died of natural causes. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Darren Greenham, 45, boasted to witnesses that . 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. Love you so so so so much x. Darren Greenham, 44, of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster, was remanded back into custody to be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of George Hinds. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. To give even serious injuries when self inflicted on the backdrop of the death of a child as mitigation would be completely unfair, he said. 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. He instead awarded 15% credit and rubbished a contention that serious injuries suffered by Greenham could be considered as mitigation. Two-year-old died in explosion after Darren Greenham cut pipe in Heysham home while intoxicated. The subsequent explosion killed George Hinds, whose family lived next . 52, and Darren Greenham, 44, both of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster . Members of George's family watched proceedings from the front row of the public gallery. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the explosion found wooden floorboards had been removed from the first floor landing of the house and gas pipes had been cut deliberately. The explosion that took place on May 16, at around 2.36am, destroyed Greenham's property and damaged 55 others. Four other people were hurt in the explosion in Heysham, Lancashire. What's he waiting for? In a tribute issued after the youngster's death, his "devastated" parents Vicky and Stephen said: "He was so precious to us. 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". The judge said: "Mr Greenham was a selfish and disruptive neighbour. 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. For the first time, they had to borrow money and are still living in a caravan. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Greenham was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter of George Hinds. 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. 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 . Emergency services were called to the scene in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire , in the . Something went wrong, please try again later. . October 4, 2022, 12:51 PM. 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. 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. "By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few . You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, 'Neighbour from hell' was behind fatal explosion, Man admits manslaughter of boy, 2, killed in blast, Park bench memorial for young gas blast victim, Boy killed and four adults injured in explosion, 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. "This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. Something went wrong, please try again later. What's he waiting for? "He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of George Hinds in Heysham. 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. 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. 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. Her husband Darren Greenham, 44, is also charged with the same offence; . 'My little angel George sleep tight son, mummy and daddy is with you always. "Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. She added: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. George Hinds, two, was killed in the explosion in Heysham, Lancs, back in May. 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. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. A man caused the death of a two-year-old boy when he cut a pipe to sell as scrap, triggering a gas explosion. Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. 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. A married couple appeared in court this morning to deny unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion. Little George died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham, near Morecambe, in May 2021. Sharon Greenham, 52, also of Bowness Road, is also charged with manslaughter, criminal damage and theft and has denied the offences. Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. Emergency services were called to the scene of the blast in Heysham . Something went wrong, please try again later. READ MORE: Man died for 20 seconds only for stranger to save his life on side of the road. 2023 BBC. Fuelled with petrol and causing thick black smoke, one of these would require firefighters to attend after spreading out of control to a border fence and another could be seen two miles away. The police enquiry is now being classed as a criminal investigation.'. Greenham was handed a 15 year sentence for manslaughter and an additional month for each of the other offences. A Gannett Company. He was also abusive when drunk and on drugs, as were his visitors. In a heartbreaking tribute shared on Facebook, his father Stephen wrote: 'Words can't describe what the last week has done to me and Vicki. "It's his actions that have caused the death of George which are really unforgivable," she added. Josh Halliday North of England correspondent. Never. Credit: Lancashire Police George's father Stephen Hinds . Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut the pipe at his home on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021. 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? 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. A total of 55 properties in the area were damaged. 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. . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. SIGN UP for our newsletter : Get the latest stories delivered straight to you The sentencing is in relation to Operation Kelton, the fatal gas explosion in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham on May 16, 2021, which . 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Please everyone don't take life for granted and look after your kids and yourselves. Georges parents were also injured and rushed to hospital but have since been discharged and are recovering as they reel from the loss of their boy. Officers found two houses collapsed, and a third property had suffered 'serious damage'. 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. Greenham, who suffered a serious head injury and lost most of the use of his right hand in the blast, pleaded guilty in August to manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. Why didn't it happen to me and keep him playing here with his mum? Little George died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham, near Morecambe, in May 2021. . 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