Love you so so so so much x. 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We would go and see him every day and hold him. A Gannett Company. Oblivious to what experts said would have been an obvious smell and sound of gas, he continued cutting even after causing the leak which led to the explosion. "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. In a tribute issued after the youngster's death, his "devastated" parents Vicky and Stephen said: "He was so precious to us. In his basis of plea, he said that he believed the gas had been turned off by Marsh. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life.. Sharon and Darren Greenham were badly wounded and had to be pulled from the rubble. Her husband Darren Greenham, 44, is also charged with the same offence; . 5. A couple accused of unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion have denied manslaughter. 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. 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. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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. This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. Darren Greenham, 44, has admitted charges of manslaughter and theft after George Hinds, 2, died in a massive explosion caused by a gasline being cut in Heysham last year. Mr Hinds delivered his own statement, placing on the stand a pillow which belonged to his boy and was recovered from the rubble. 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. 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.". Around 20 minutes later, a huge explosion rocked the street in Heysham, Lancashire . He added it has "placed a strain on their relationship, how could it not". Despite denials in interview and again at court, Greenham later accepted that he had cut the copper pipes in his property, intending to sell them for scrap. "Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. Pictured: Married couple Darren, 44, and Sharon Greenham, 50, are fighting for their lives in hospital after a gas explosion at their home in Heysham, Lancashire, which police investigators believe was caused by pipe which had been cut in their house, George Arthur Hinds, aged two years and 10 months, was killed by the blast on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, and police have since launched a criminal investigation after it was discovered a gas pipe had been cut in one of the homes, An aerial view of the devastation caused by the gas explosion in Heysham which has completely destroyed two homes, Pictured: Emergency workers at the scene of the gas explosion, in which two-year-old George Arthur Hinds was killed and Darren and Sharon Greenham were seriously injured in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire, on Sunday May 16. 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. Toddler George Hinds died in the blast, which destroyed two homes and damaged another on Mallowdale Avenue on 16 May 2021. Darren Greenham has stolen the opportunity for my mum and Stephen's mum and dad to be grandparents. 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. 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. The court heard a total of 55 properties were damaged in the blast, which happened at 2.36am. Detectives, assisted by gas experts, have been carrying out a fingertip search of the scene following the explosion. "He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". He said: "With that sobriety has come a clarity and an insight that he didn't have through all his years of drink and drugs, and that clarity and insight has enabled him to see for the first time what terrible harm he has caused.". Nothing can ever make up for the loss of George in such tragic circumstances, my thoughts are very much with his family, who have carried themselves throughout the distressing proceedings in a dignified and exemplary manner and who I hope can find some comfort in knowing Greenham has been brought to justice.. 'My little angel George sleep tight son, mummy and daddy is with you always. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. 2023 BBC. "By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few . Detective Chief Inspector Jane Webb, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: My thoughts first and foremost remain with Georges family and loved ones at this time, as well as those others affected by this incident. George Arthur Hinds died in the explosion which destroyed his Heysham home in the early hours of May 16, 2021. His parents were also injured in the incident. The gas explosion took place in Heysham on May 16 last year. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He adds that expert evidence explained the smell and sound of the gas leak would have been obvious. '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. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. A third defendant, Paul Marsh, 54, from Heysham, also pleaded not guilty to damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. 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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. Darren Greenham, 45, used an angle grinder to cut the . 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. Members of George's family watched proceedings from the front row of the public gallery. Read about our approach to external linking. A fundraiser set up in the wake of the blast that killed a young child and destroyed three houses has raised more than 51,000. '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. 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. . 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. 'Even if you think the information you have is insignificant or irrelevant please tell us and we can be the judge.'. 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. Darren Greenham, 45, of Lancaster's Ambleside Avenue, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Preston Crown Court. 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HEYSHAM, LANCASHIRE: Darren Greenham, 45, who cut a gas pipe to sell for scrap, caused a massive gas explosion that took the life of a two-year-old boy. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. At around 2.30am on May 16 last year, things escalated into scenes likened to a horror movie as a huge explosion occurred at his home and destroyed each of those either side of him. I had everything I ever wanted. A home and a loving family. 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. Appearing in the dock at Preston Crown Court today, Darren Greenham, 44, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to George's manslaughter. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's ", The family were praised for their dignity by Judge Robert Altham. The court heard how he would regularly play loud music and taunt his neighbours and was dependent on drugs and alcohol. Stephen posted a heartfelt tribute to his little boy on Facebook, according to The Sun. She asked me to because it was always me that put him to bed at night. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. George Hinds, two, was killed in the explosion in Heysham, Lancs, back in May. Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut the pipe at his home on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021. Darren Greenham, 44, has been remanded in custody after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and theft offences. Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter, damaging a gas . 'The tears haven't stopped. Editors' Code of Practice. He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him., Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Webb said: Darren 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 anybodys safety. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The explosion at 2.36am on 16 May 2021 completely destroyed the defendant's council property in Heysham, Lancashire and damaged 55 others. Two-year-old George Hinds died in the blast in May 2021 when Darren Greenham, 45, used an angle grinder to cut a pipe in his home in Heysham, Lancashire, in the early hours of the morning while . George's mum Vicky Hinds was trapped for two hours before being pulled from the rubble. 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. His reckless actions caused the . 'Nothing I can say or do will bring him back, I really wish I could. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. 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? As things stand, the case will be opened on October 4 and Darren Greenham will be sentenced on October 5. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Read about our approach to external linking. "I am satisfied that he has been convicted of the serious offence of manslaughter and that Georges family have some sense of closure knowing that the case against the man responsible for his death has concluded.. Why didn't it happen to me and keep him playing here with his mum? 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. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. George's parents, who live in neighbouring 18 Mallowdale Avenue, have since been discharged from hospital. 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