A drug dealer's desire for revenge led to three deaths, left him jailed for life and another two men and a woman behind bars. Steven Wales was the last of the four to be locked up yesterday, having dumped the body of Paul Smith in a wheelie bin after the dad-of-five suffered a drug overdose and died in his bath.
Only a week before his death, the 40-year-old had started a fire at the home of Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, on South John Street in St Helens which claimed the elderly couple's lives. Another man, Lee Owens, admitted having acted as a lookout during the arson attack.
Arson plot over drug dispute
Kevin Weetman was meanwhile said to have given the orders for the fire over a drug dispute with Mrs Jackson's son George, who lived at the same address but was not present at the time of the blaze. A third defendant, Kylie Maynard, was meanwhile described as his "trusted lieutenant" in hatching the plot.
But all three denied murder, with Owens having claimed during a trial at Liverpool Crown Court that Smith had torched the house as a result of a personal dispute between him and Mr Jackson. This was said to have related to his belief his target had "taken the p***" when Maynard, who the arsonist had reportedly been involved with sexually, had stayed at his house after being "taxed" of cocaine and money.
Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, told the jury during the trial of Weetman, Maynard and Owens earlier this year: "At about just after half past midnight on Tuesday the 15th of July last year, Paul Smith and Lee Owens set fire to a house, 44 South John Street in St Helens. Inside the address at that time were Mary Sheila Jackson, known to all as Sheila, and her partner Peter Eric Greener, known to everybody as Eric."
"The alarm went up. Firefighters and paramedics went to the scene. They were able to rescue Eric and Sheila from the blaze, but they were unable to recover from the injuries they sustained in the fire and died within days.
"While it does not matter in law, Eric and Sheila were not the intended victims of the blaze. About a month earlier, Kevin Weetman and Kylie Maynard had attempted to trick George Jackson, Sheila's son, into working for Mr Weetman as a drug dealer."
"Mr Jackson had helped out Ms Maynard when she had been robbed of drugs, sometimes called a taxing, by some other people. He had taken her home, his home being the same as Sheila and Eric. He had allowed her to wash, eat and sleep and stay there. She knew exactly where he lived, and who he lived with.
"A few days later, Mr Weetman gave Mr Jackson half an ounce of cocaine, wholesale worth between £400 and £700, but, on an individual wrap basis, quite a lot more. Initially, Mr Weetman said that it was a gift for helping out Ms Maynard."
"But he offered Mr Jackson the chance to deal drugs for him. Mr Jackson declined the offer and thought nothing of it until some time later, when Mr Weetman again contacted him and asked him to work for him. And, when Mr Jackson declined once more, the mood changed. What had been a gift or reward ceased to be so, and Mr Weetman started asking where his 'dough' was for the drugs."
"While there was, on the face of it, no threat made, the crown say that Mr Weetman decided to take action to prevent a loss of face. Face is all important in the drugs world, and he set in motion a plan to kill, or at least cause really serious harm to, George Jackson by setting fire to his house in the middle of night. Whilst Paul Smith and Lee Owens failed to kill Mr Jackson, the fire that they set caused the deaths of Eric and Shelia.
"Paul Smith and Lee Owens were the people responsible for setting fire to the house. What is also not in issue is that Kevin Weetman and Kylie Maynard, together, were involved in dealing drugs.
"Why isn't Paul Smith in the dock? Well, he died shortly after the fire, but no one in the case disputes that he was one of the two people who went on a motorbike to set fire to the house.
"What is in issue is that Lee Owens says that he only intended damage to the building from the fire and nothing else. Kevin Weetman and Kylie Maynard deny that they had anything to do with the setting of the fire and the deaths of Eric and Sheila."
Defendants' claims and convictions
When asked by his barrister Peter Wright KC during his evidence whether he had tried to "trick" Mr Jackson into working for him as a drug dealer, Weetman said: "That's the first time I've ever heard of anyone getting tricked into selling drugs for someone. That doesn't happen. It just doesn't. If they didn't want to sell drugs, they'd just say no."
Mr Power later put to him in cross-examination that Smith was "under his control", to which Weetman, of Croxteth Drive in Aigburth, replied "no, Paul was a piece of s***, I didn't like him". With the prosecution silk having responded that he was "the sort of disposable piece of s*** employed to do your work", the 34-year-old added: "I'm a drug dealer, not a killer. I don't set fire to people’s houses. I don't go to where old people live and I don't go to people’s houses."
When Mr Power put to him that he was using his admissions of dealing drugs to cover for his involvement in the murder, Weetman said: "I'm not getting framed for two murders. I'm admitting what I've done, that's drug dealing. I'm going to get big time for it. It's my third time. I've never murdered no one before and I've never asked no one to light fires for me."
Weetman was also asked about an audio recording in which he was captured threatening to "burn out" Mr Jackson and his mum around a month prior to the fatal fire, but said of this: "It was just bravado. I don't burn people's houses. Especially with old people in. [I was] just chatting s***, as you do, just giving it the biftas, just looking the big man. I was just chatting s*** on a rant."
Maynard, of Rydal Street in Everton, denied having "passed on instructions from Kevin Weetman about setting the fire" to Smith and Owens. The latter, aged 46 and of no fixed address, meanwhile told the court that he was "absolutely devastated, heartbroken" by the deaths of Eric and Sheila, adding: "Two innocent old people have died. I just wish I could turn back time."
Although Owens pleaded guilty to manslaughter in advance of the trial, he maintained that he believed the property was empty at the time of the incident and claimed he did not intend to injure or kill. He, Maynard and Weetman were all cleared of two counts of murder by a jury of six men and six women, although the latter two were unanimously convicted of manslaughter.
Weetman was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years behind bars. Maynard meanwhile received 23 years and Owens was jailed for 13-and-a-half years, with both required to serve two thirds of their terms behind bars before their release.
Judge's remarks and sentencing
Sentencing, High Court judge Mr Justice Jay told Weetman: "In your sordid and brutal way, you have been a successful drug dealer over many years. You exert your rule with fists and iron bars. You have an appalling criminal record.
"You are a man with an entirely warped moral code. You feel no remorse for what you did. After the verdict, you smiled and laughed inappropriately in full sight of the victims' family.
"I infer that your intention was to burn out George Jackson as a punishment for him not doing your bidding. This arson was entirely your idea. You initiated Paul Smith into committing it, having brutally assaulted him. You knew that Kyle Maynard would act as your loyal subordinate in making the arrangements. I do not conclude that you anticipated that Paul Smith would recruit Lee Owens to this enterprise but, through your malevolence, you involved two others, Paul Smith and Kylie Maynard, in this wicked scheme.
"That you were prepared to use arson as a weapon against George Jackson when, on any view, he had done you no wrong demonstrates that you are a risk to the public by virtue of committing further specified offences. These two manslaughter offences are of the highest degree of seriousness.
"In my judgement, you are an extremely violent and dangerous individual. No reliable assessment can be made as to the length of time that you will still be a danger to the public. It is possible that prison will soften and reform you. It is more likely that you will remain a danger for the rest of your life, at least until your old age."
Weetman smiled as he was told he would receive a life imprisonment, with cries of "yes" heard among Eric and Sheila's family and one man seen giving him two thumbs down. Another then told him as he was led to the cells: "I bet you're not laughing now Weetman."
However, Weetman responded "I'm always laughing". When another man added "see you rat", the killer went on to reply: "Wool."
Body dumped after overdose
The same court then heard on Wednesday that Smith had subsequently spent the weekend of July 19 and 20 last year at Wales' then home on Coniston Street in Everton, during which time the two men had taken drugs together. He was said to have last spoken to his mum over the phone in the late afternoon of the Saturday before being reported missing by his brother during the evening of the follow Monday.
But at 9.22am the following day, Wales, now of Pope Street in Bootle, called 999 and "reported a man had died of a drug overdose in his bath two days previously". The 61-year-old then told police who attended the scene that he had moved Smith's body to a wheelie bin in a nearby garden, with officers subsequently led to a nearby overgrown patch of land off Thirlmere Road and discovering that attempts had been made to conceal the body beneath litter, green waste and furniture.
Wales was arrested on suspicion of murder as a result, later telling detectives under interview that Smith had asked to use his flat to bathe and wash his clothes. Having left the other man at his address, he then reported he later returned to find him dead in the bath and "was worried about going back to prison", leading to him placing the body in the bin.
Smith's cause of death was ultimately given as mixed drug toxicity, having died "no later than Sunday night". Chris Hopkins, appearing for the prosecution in this case, told the court of Wales' actions: "He has violated the most fundamental of dignities to be afforded to someone. His actions were deeply disrespectful."
In a statement which was read to the court on their behalf, Smith's family said: "Paul was a son, a brother, a father, a partner. He was and always will be a deeply valued human. His life mattered.
"The intentional actions of Steven Wales meant Paul was treated in a degrading and humiliating manner in his final moments. When Steven Wales chose to conceal our Paul’s body and failed to contact the emergency services for two days, he demonstrated a shocking callousness and, above all, cowardice.
"Paul would always call us. When that first call was missed, we instantly knew something was wrong. For two days, we were left in a state of limbo with no answers. We could never have anticipated just how horrific the events would be.
"Those two days of delay unnecessarily prolonged our agony. To know it never had to be that way enrages us. No one can truly understand the impact or turmoil this has until they experience it themselves. It truly shattered us.
"We never knew the last time we saw Paul would be the last. His children never knew it would be the last time they'd see their dad. Paul has five children. They cannot understand why they couldn't say goodbye to their dad's body.
"We don't believe you've told the full truth of what happened to Paul. We do not believe you singlehandedly lifted Paul down the stairs into that bin. We believe you had help doing this, yet you will not tell us who.
"We do not believe it was because you feared being recalled to prison. We believe that's a pathetic excuse which you have fabricated. We believe you chose to reveal only part of the truth and that you've done this because you're selfish and a coward.
"You continue to deprive us of our chance to know what truly happened. We have so many questions that remain unanswered. The complete cruelty of how Paul was treated in his last moments has deeply compounded our grief.
"Our minds are consumed with the sheer horror of how Paul was treated. Steven Wales stripped our Paul of all his human dignity in his final moments. Paul was left like an object for days."
Wales' record and sentence
Wales has a total of 32 previous convictions for 64 offences, including receiving eight years for manslaughter in 2009 and five years for possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply, affray, possession of a bladed article in a public place and being in charge of a dangerous out of control dog causing injury in 2023. He was recalled on licence for nine months in relation to the latter sentence as a result of his arrest in connection with Mr Smith's death, having been released in October 2024.
Joanne Maxwell, defending, said on his behalf: "Mr Wales left Mr Smith in his flat and, he told me, he returned the following morning, at what point he is unable to say, to find that Mr Smith was dead in the bath with a needle close by. He experienced immediate, significant shock, in his words. He clearly did not think properly. He panicked.
"Mr Wales was candid with me. He said he had taken cocaine and diazepam. He was conscious that he was on licence at the time and fearful of being returned to custody. He knows that he should have contacted the emergency services immediately, and certainly before he moved Mr Smith's body.
"He has accepted full responsibility for his actions, and he is only too aware of the seriousness of those actions. He feels great shame, and he is, of course, aware of the impact it must have had and the distress he has caused to Mr Smith's family.
"He also says that, by carrying out those actions, it has had a significant and lasting psychological impact on him and is something that will live with him for the rest of his life. He asks me to mitigate on his behalf that he did not cause or play any role in the death of Mr Smith.
"He suffers from COPD and some PTSD. He had a difficult childhood and, of course, has an antecedent record that perhaps reflects that. He has remained largely absent from illicit substances since this incident. He does say that he has occasional relapses into cocaine use. The aim of Mr Wales is to become drug free and put his life back together as best as he possibly can in the future."
Ms Maxwell also read a letter to the court on behalf of her client, in which he said: "No words can express how truly sorry and ashamed I am. I accept full responsibility for what I did and don't seek to minimise my behaviour.
"I spent a long time reflecting on my actions. I still do. I'm so ashamed of the choices I made that day. The family of my victim are never far from my thoughts. I'm so sorry. It's something they will carry for a long time, as will I.
"I was struggling with my mental health. It doesn't excuse what I did. I know my judgement was affected. Since then, I've taken steps to address my mental health to better understand factors that contributed to my poor decision making.
"I want to become a better person and ensure I make better choices in future. It's a painful and lasting lesson learnt from this experience. If I could take back what I did, I would without hesitation."
Wales admitted one count of preventing a lawful and decent burial during an earlier hearing. Wearing glasses and a black and grey Berghaus coat over a black Monterrain t-shirt in the dock, he showed no reaction as he was jailed for 28 months.
Smith's brother then shouted "you little scumbag" from the public gallery as Wales was led to the cells. Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "In recent years, he had struggled with an addiction to class A drugs and, in the period before his death, was living what has been described as a chaotic lifestyle, finding himself over that fateful weekend in your accommodation in a house of multiple occupation.
"Although the cause of his death has been established as mixed drug toxicity, the precise circumstances of his death are uncertain. The information available to me is entirely dependent on your account, which raises as many questions as it answers, not least how a 61-year-old man with COPD was able to move that body from the bath and the flat into a wheelie bin to a location where it was concealed.
"I suspect there are all sorts of reasons why you do not want to answer that question. That and other unanswered questions add to the distress of Mr Smith's family. That is the only basis on which I can sentence you, because I have no other independent evidence of what actually happened.
"Your failure to alert the emergency services, or indeed anyone, to what happened meant that he was lying in that wheelie bin for getting on for two days. In that period, his family, who had reported him as missing, were beside themselves with worry as to what had happened to him, completely in ignorance of the undignified way in which he had been treated.
"This is not a case where you committed this crime with the intention of preventing an investigation into the cause of an unnatural death. But it is an offence where the body has been deliberately concealed and, although the police were not actively misled, that concealment had the effect of leaving up in the air what had happened to Mr Smith in that period.
"This is not the less serious sort of case where there has been a passive failure to report the death. Aggravating factors include that this prompted a murder investigation, albeit one that was relatively short-lived, with the inevitable drain on police resources and increased anxiety for Mr Smith's family.
"It was an offence committed on licence at a time in your life when you should have been using the support offered to you and putting behind the offending that led you into prison. Instead, you have fallen back into drug-taking. That, in turn, led to the commission of this offence.
"It is also an aggravating factor that you have an extensive criminal record, and not just for minor offences. There are some particularly serious offences. The mitigating factors are the fact this was a relatively short period of concealment and, after two days, you called the police and took them to where the body had been hidden. You are, I accept, genuinely remorseful, and you have made some, albeit limited, progress on recall."
