Man jailed after causing gas explosion which killed two-year-old boy in Heysham
George Arthur Hinds was killed in a blast on Mallowdale Avenue last year
Last updated 5th Oct 2022
The man who caused a gas explosion which killed a two-year old boy in Heysham has been jailed for 15 years.
45-year-old Darren Greenham, who was the next-door neighbour to the Hinds family, admitted manslaughter and theft from a meter or automatic machine.
Emergency services were called out to Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham in the early hours of 16 May 2021 to reports of an explosion. Footage and images of the explosion, gathered by police, were shown on the first day of the sentencing, with the family holding back their tears throughout.
In their victim impact statements...
George's mum Vicky Hinds said:
"After the explosion, being trapped in the rubble was the most scared I had ever been in my life. This was until I arrived at the hospital to be told that George had died. Never ever have I felt so scared as in that moment of my life.
"George was particularly close to my mum, she looked after him, she idolised him and he idolised her. Darren Greenham has stolen the opportunity for my mum and Stephen's mum and dad to be grandparents. I will never forgive him. Never. The house, the car, my possessions can all be replaced but George never can be. I can't describe in words how much I miss him.
"I am absolutely heartbroken. All because Darren Greenham decided to cut a gas pipe."
George's dad Stephen Hinds took to the witness box, wearing a paw patrol tie and carrying a much-loved and cherished paw patrol teddy, one of the few possessions the family have left that belonged to their son.
He said:
"I regret laying in that rubble screaming for help and being pulled out alive. I wish it would been me that had died and George could be with his mummy doing the magical things all three year olds should be doing. Going to the park, swimming, opening his birthday presents and getting to see Father Christmas."
Stephen told the court how he lost his job and the family had hit hard times in the aftermath of losing their son. How he has turned to drink to deal with his grief and gambling to help with money worries. He said he knows it's not right, but feels he has nowhere else to turn.
Two homes were destroyed and a third was seriously damaged.
It was announced the following day that two-year old George Arthur-Hinds had tragically died in the blast.
Lancashire Police tweeted a short video of George following the sentencing.
The force has said:
"No sentence will ever make up for the loss of George’s life or reflect the pain and misery Darren has caused. No-one should put their child to bed at night, in a place of safety, and not be able to see them alive again.
Our thoughts are with George and his family."