Man Jailed for 15 Years After Toddler Killed in Gas Explosion
Darren Greenham has been locked up for 15 years after a gas explosion killed toddler George Hinds in Heysham, Lancashire. The blast tore through the council home on Mallowdale Avenue where Greenham lived, wrecking two neighbouring houses and damaging dozens more.
Crime Sparked by Scrapped Pipe Theft
Back in May 2021, Greenham used an angle grinder to cut a gas pipe inside his own home, intending to steal and sell the metal. He also bypassed the gas meter to steal gas. The deadly explosion struck at 2.35am on May 16, destroying the property and causing chaos across 55 homes.
Judge Slams ‘Selfish and Wicked’ Acts
“He lived his life without regard for the comfort of those who happened to live next to him,” said Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham, branding Greenham a “selfish and disruptive neighbour.”
Lancashire Police called Greenham a “truly selfish and wicked man” whose greed caused the tragic death of innocent toddler George and £100,000 worth of destruction.
“No one should be able to put their child to bed in a safe place at night and not see them alive again,” police added.
Greenham’s reckless quest for scrap metal cash has left a community shattered and a toddler’s family devastated.
