The court heard how at the time of cutting the pipes, Greenham was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 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. 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. This resulted in an explosion, destroying several homes, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, and killing an innocent toddler. A home and a loving family. A child's toy covered in debris was seen lying amid the wrecked homes' rubble after the two couples were pulled from the ruins. The court heard that this offence was set against a backdrop of anti-social behaviour towards his neighbours. A couple are fighting for their lives after a gas pipe that police say was cut in their home sparked an explosion which killed a two-year-old boy in the house next door. 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Credit: Lancashire Police George's father Stephen Hinds . A co-defendant, Paul Marsh, was accused of damaging the gas meter in Greenhams home to cut bills. 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. That person could only be "incompetent at best", Recorder Altham says. His family lived in the neighbouring property in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire. The force said it was now treating the probe as a criminal investigation and inquiries continue into how the pipe came to be cut. No sentence will ever make up for the loss of Georges life or reflect the pain and misery Greenham has caused. 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. A couple have denied unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion. Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school. 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. Greenham has today been jailed for 15 years and two months after a two-day sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The judge said she and husband Stephen Hinds are still living in a caravan and had to borrow money after losing their home and all their possessions. The police enquiry is now being classed as a criminal investigation.'. George Arthur Hinds, aged two years and 10 months, who died following a suspected gas explosion in Heysham. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Detectives, assisted by gas experts, have been carrying out a fingertip search of the scene following the explosion. SIGN UP for our newsletter : Get the latest stories delivered straight to you 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. George Hinds died after neighbour Darren Greenham cut a pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in 2021. His dad Stephen said his family had been "devastated" by Greenham, "just for selling . 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. 04 October 2022. He also pleaded guilty to theft from a meter/automatic . 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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. His parents were also injured in the incident. 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 . The explosion that took place on May 16, at around 2.36am, destroyed Greenham's property and damaged 55 others. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 20 came to be cut and those enquiries are complex and lengthy. "Even if you think the information you have is insignificant or irrelevant please tell us and we can be the judge. He said: Seeing my son in his Paw Patrol coffin in the chapel of rest was heart-rending. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. 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.". 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. 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Darren Greenham, 45, of Lancaster's Ambleside Avenue, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Preston Crown Court. 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. Love you so so so so much x. She added: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. She said: 'Although we don't know any of the people personally, we don't need to know someone's name or face to help them. The house, the car, my possessions can all be replaced but George never can be. 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. Our focus now is on trying to establish how and why the pipe inside No. Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of George Hinds. Please everyone dont take life for granted and look after your kids and yourselves. He was also given one month concurrent for theft of gas and damage to a gas meter. Darren Greenham, 45 . Greenham had been remanded in custody since admitting a manslaughter charge in August, six months after he first pleaded not guilty and just weeks before a trial was due to begin. 2023 BBC. 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. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Credit: PA Images. "This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. He lived without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". During that time, with a clear smell and sound of gas leaking, Greenham continued cutting pipes as neighbours slept on either side of his home.. Staff arrange donations at the Hurley Flyer pub in Heysham after a gas blast that killed a young child and destroyed three houses. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. 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 . A couple accused of unlawfully killing their two-year-old neighbour in a gas explosion have denied manslaughter. Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. "Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Residents of Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, were woken in the early hours of May 16 by an explosion which left nearby streets and fields covered with debris. A "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. Sentencing him, Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham said he was a "selfish and disruptive neighbour". In addition to the loss of their son, George's parents were left 'without anything' as their home, car and possessions were all destroyed. 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. "By Darren Greenham cutting a gas pipe to make a few . 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. My little angel George sleep tight son, mummy and daddy is with you always. Darren Greenham was handed 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the gas explosion which killed George Hinds. The judge praised Georges parents, who have been living in a caravan since the explosion, for their dignity and said he shared their incomprehension that anyone could put the lives of so many at risk for the sake of stealing a few lengths of copper piping. Sharon Greenham, 51, and 44-year-old Darren Greenham pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of George Hinds in Heysham. 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. Darren Greenham, 44, of Bowness Road, Lancaster, admitted manslaughter, criminal damage and theft at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday. A. 'Our focus now is on trying to establish how and why the pipe inside No. 2023 BBC. He was given 15 years and two months for manslaughter and one month each for the other two charges, to run concurrently. Peter Glenser KC, defending, said Greenham was sober for the first time in "many, many years" since being in custody awaiting sentence. . 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. 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. Darren Greenham used an angle grinder to cut the pipe at his home on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, in May 2021. 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. Detective Chief Insp Jane Webb, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost remain with George's family and loved ones at this time, as well as those others affected by this incident. ', Stephen later shared a video of him reading his son a book about animals with the caption: 'My little boy. To describe Darren as the neighbour from hell would be a massive understatement. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Darren Greenham, 45, was trying to extract the metal to sell for scrap to fund his addiction in the early hours of May 16 last year in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire. Darren Greenham, 44, has been remanded in custody after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and theft offences. Greenham was facing eviction proceedings on his property and was hoping to make money from the pipes he cut, according to the prosecution. On Friday, Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of George Hinds. Greenham cut a gas pipe in his own property with an angle grinder, planning to steal the pipework, and bypassed the meter to . 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. 'Enquiries are ongoing into how and why the pipe came to be severed enquiries which are likely to take some considerable time. Darren Greenham caused a massive gas explosion by cutting gas pipes he intended to sell for scrap, Want all the latest cases and top crime stories from Lancs Live? Both Marsh, of Banks Crescent, Heysham, and Sharon Greenham, now of Bowness Road, Lancaster, were bailed to appear at . Editors' Code of Practice. Greenham was handed a 15-year prison sentence for manslaughter, damaging a gas meter, and theft of gas. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. 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. 5. 'Nothing I can say or do will bring him back, I really wish I could. The tears havent stopped. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. ", 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. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 20 came to be cut and those enquiries are complex and lengthy. At 5.15am Sunday morning my little boy was pronounced dead after two hours 15 minutes trying to bring him back. Darren Greenham . Darren Greenham, 45, was jailed for 15 years after causing a gas explosion which killed two-year-old George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. What's he waiting for? She said: "After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who were unfortunate enough to live adjacent to him.". 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. '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. George's parents, who described him as a "beautiful little angel", continued to be supported by specially trained officers, police said. 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