The family of an elderly couple who died in an arson attack on their St Helens home have been told two of their killers' prison terms could be slashed — just five months after they were jailed. Relatives of Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, say 'the justice system is favouring criminals' after being informed that two of the couple's killers could serve just half of their respective sentences before being released from prison.
Background to the Arson Attack
Beloved grandparents Sheila and Eric, who had been together for 30 years, were the unintended victims of a revenge plot masterminded by drug dealer Kevin Weetman. Weetman, 34, had attempted to pressure Sheila's son George into selling drugs for him after giving him a 'gift' of cocaine in return for a favour. When George refused, Weetman demanded payment for the cocaine and planned the arson attack 'to prevent a loss of face'.
He gave his instructions to fellow drug dealer Kylie Maynard, 37, who passed them onto Lee Owens, 46, and Paul Smith, 40. Their aim was to 'burn out' George Jackson at the address he shared with his parents on South John Street as a 'punishment'. George was not home at the time of the vicious blaze in the early hours of July 15, 2025, but Sheila and Eric were.
Sentencing and Subsequent Reduction
Weetman and Maynard were found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in February. Owens pleaded guilty to the crime, while Smith died before he could be brought to justice. Weetman, of Croxteth Drive, Aigburth, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years — meaning he will spend 25 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole. Maynard, of Rydal Street in Everton, was sentenced to 23 years in prison, and Owens, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years. At the time, they were warned that they would serve two thirds of this sentence before they could be released on licence.
However, Sheila and Eric's family say they have now been warned to prepare for the worst — as they recently received a letter informing them Maynard and Owens could serve just one half of their respective sentences before being freed. This means Maynard could serve 11-and-a-half years of her 23 year sentence in prison before being released on licence, while Owens could serve just six years and seven months.
Family's Reaction
A spokesperson for Sheila and Eric's family said: 'The court case was awful. It was heartbreaking. We had to relive everything we'd gone through and hear things nobody ever wants to hear — that nan had been found collapsed at the bottom of the bed after screaming for help from the window. Eric was found collapsed in a chair after trying to put out the fire with a bucket of water.'
Sheila and Eric's family added: 'We received a letter about it not so long ago. A lady from victim support came out to us on Monday and talked us through it and what it meant. It doesn't apply to Weetman, but it does apply to Owens and Maynard. They will likely get years knocked off their sentence, which is just ridiculous, because what's the point in even giving them the sentence they have?'
'We feel angry and upset. We feel like we never got the justice we deserved in the first place, and now they're not even keeping them inside. They've not even been in prison five months and already they're getting time knocked off.'
'It seems like the justice system is favouring the criminals and not sparing a second thought for the families affected. Our nan and grandad weren't given a second chance, so why should they?'
Impact on the Family
The news came as a bitter shock to Sheila and Eric's family just days before the one-year anniversary of their death. They described the couple: 'Sheila was a fiery redhead and she worked for years in the factories. She was a devoted mum. She loved a girl's trip away. Even at 83 she went to a caravan in Wales twice a year, and to Blackpool with the girls.'
'Eric was so funny. He'd have given you the last tenner in his pocket, he would have given you anything. He loved visiting Wales and it was the best part of his year. And he loved nan. He had about seven tattoos up his arms all saying 'Sheila'. Every year at Christmas he'd get down on one knee and ask her to marry him.'
'They were so loving, so caring, and they were really well loved around the area. Everybody knew them, especially in the Queens pub where they drank.'
Ministry of Justice Response
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: 'This government is fixing the prison crisis it inherited – building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals. Without this decisive action, prisons will run out of space entirely as early as November and we will be unable to lock up serious offenders at all.'
'Public safety and supporting victims is our top priority. Offenders who a judge has deemed the most dangerous are automatically blocked from early release, and prisoners who behave badly while behind bars face being locked up for longer.'
'Anyone who is released faces tough rules such as restrictions on their movements, tagging, being banned from attending public events, pubs and clubs, backed by our record £700m investment into probation and 1,300 extra probation officers.'
Family's Final Thoughts
Sheila and Eric's family added: 'When the verdict came in of manslaughter instead of murder, they all laughed because they thought they had gotten away with it. Now they have essentially gotten away with it, because they're being let out 50% early because the prisons are overcrowded. But that's not our fault.'
'It diminishes everything we have been through and fought for. It makes us feel they (Sheila and Eric) don't matter.'
'Our family has been changed. It's been gruelling. They were the queen and king of our family and everything revolved around them. Every week we'd go to nan's, or they would take us out somewhere. All of that is gone.'
'We've had a family wedding that they should have been a big part of. We've had birthdays and Christmas. Every Christmas morning we'd all get up and go to nan's house and have a Baileys. This year we went and we all stood outside and had a Baileys for them.'
'The house has been ripped out now. They've knocked through all the rooms. We still go down and put flowers there. It's still their house to us.'
'They should still be here. They would still be here if it wasn't for them.'
