Drug Dealer Sentenced to Life for Fatal Arson Attack on Pensioners
A drug dealer described as having a "warped moral code" has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years after plotting an arson attack that resulted in the deaths of two elderly individuals. Kevin Weetman, 34, orchestrated the firebombing of a terraced house on South John Street in St Helens, Merseyside, last July, targeting George Jackson after he refused to sell drugs on Weetman's behalf.
Tragic Outcome of a Vicious Plot
During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that the intended victim, George Jackson, had left the property just minutes before the attack to visit a shop. However, his mother, Sheila Jackson, 83, and her partner, Eric Greener, 77, were inside the home and suffered fatal injuries from the blaze. Both victims were rescued by firefighters but later died in hospital from burns and smoke inhalation.
Neighbours reported hearing high-pitched screams and seeing plumes of black smoke, with the front door ablaze just after 12:30 am on July 15. In a desperate 999 call, Mrs Jackson told operators she could not breathe as the house was on fire.
Courtroom Drama and Lack of Remorse
Following his sentencing on Thursday, a family member in the public gallery shouted, "You're not laughing now, Weetman." The drug dealer defiantly replied, "I'm always laughing," showcasing his complete lack of remorse. Another man called him a "rat," to which Weetman responded with the slang term "Wool."
High Court judge Mr Justice Jay condemned Weetman during sentencing, stating, "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." The judge added that Weetman was "an extremely violent and dangerous individual" with a "warped moral code" who felt no remorse for his actions.
Co-Defendants and Criminal Background
Weetman, along with co-accused Kylie Maynard, 37, and Lee Owens, 46, were cleared of murdering Mrs Jackson and Mr Greener after a five-week trial. However, Weetman and Maynard were convicted of manslaughter, while Owens had already admitted to the charge. Maynard was sentenced to 23 years in prison, and Owens received 13 years and six months.
The court heard that Weetman played a leading role in a drugs line generating approximately £8,000 per week, with Maynard acting as his "trusted lieutenant." Weetman's criminal history dates back to a conviction for battery at age 12, and at 15, he left a police officer brain-damaged after mowing him down on a scooter.
Details of the Arson Plot
The prosecution alleged that Weetman recruited low-level dealers Owens and Paul Smith, 40, to carry out the attack after Mr Jackson twice declined to work for him. Smith, who later took his own life, told his girlfriend before his death, "I had to go somewhere and set a house on fire but the fella's mum and dad were upstairs. Red Head told me to do it." Smith added that he had not killed the right man and that "Red Head was mad at me."
During cross-examination, Weetman insisted, "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." However, Mr Justice Jay noted that Weetman had lied systematically during the trial and that a letter of remorse sent ahead of sentencing was "too late."
Family Impact and Sentencing Remarks
In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Alex Langhorn, Mrs Jackson's daughter Sharon Jackson said, "Mum and Eric were our world. They were our life. You took their precious lives away from them. You did that. You didn't care who was in that house."
Mr Justice Jay concluded that Weetman's actions demonstrated he was a risk to the public, stating, "These two manslaughter offences are of the highest degree of seriousness. 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."
