Mick Philpott has been jailed for life for orchestrating a plot to set fire to his Derby home, resulting in the deaths of six children. The trial judge described him as a 'disturbingly dangerous' man with no moral compass, and ordered he serve a minimum of 15 years before being considered for parole.
Philpott's wife, Mairead, and friend Paul Mosley were both sentenced to 17 years for their roles in the arson attack. They will not be eligible for release until they have served at least half of their sentences.
Mrs Justice Thirlwall, passing sentence at Nottingham Crown Court, said the plot to set fire to the house and then rescue the children was 'a wicked and dangerous plan' that was 'outside the comprehension of any right-thinking person'. She noted Philpott aimed to frame a partner who had left him.
The judge detailed Philpott's long history of violence against women, including a 1978 attempted murder conviction for stabbing a girlfriend 13 times. Philpott used this conviction to terrify and control other women, whom he regarded as his 'chattels'.
The fire, started in May 2012, killed Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, John, 9, Jack, 8, Jesse, 6, and Jayden, 5. The judge accepted Philpott did not intend to kill the children but said the plan was reckless in the extreme.
Whether Philpott is ever released will be a matter for the Parole Board. As the trio were sentenced, shouts of 'Die, Mick, die' were heard from the public gallery.
