Steven Wales, 61, has been jailed for 28 months after admitting preventing the lawful burial of father-of-five Paul Smith, whose body was found in a wheelie bin. Wales reported Smith's death to police on July 22 last year, two days after the 40-year-old is believed to have overdosed in a bath.
Officers found Smith's body in a bin at the back of derelict properties on South John Street in St Helens. The discovery came a week after Smith carried out a fatal revenge arson attack on the same street, which killed an elderly couple.
Arson attack and convictions
Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, died following the arson attack at their home on July 15, 2025. Smith, known as Smigger, and Lee Owens went to the property together, intending to target Ms Jackson's son, George Jackson, who sometimes lived there.
Kevin Weetman planned the attack after Mr Jackson refused to sell drugs for him. Weetman was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years, Kylie Maynard was jailed for 23 years, and Owens was sentenced to 13 years and six months.
Death and court appearance
Smith was reported missing on July 21 by his brother, Michael, after last contacting a family member on July 19. He had spent July 20 at a house on Coniston Street in Everton, where he took heroin, cocaine and several sedatives. An inquest in July this year was told Smith is believed to have overdosed in the bath, with water found in his lungs. His medical cause of death was given as mixed drug toxicity.
Wales, of Pope Street in Bootle, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of Smith when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. He showed no reaction as he was jailed.
