Man jailed for killing 2-year-old boy in explosion in Lancashire. Details here

A man caused the death of a two-year-old boy when he cut a pipe to sell as scrap, triggering a gas explosion. This man has been jailed. In the early hours of May 16, 2021, 45-year-old Darren Greenham cut the pipe using an angle grinder, which caused the huge explosion that killed the little boy, George Hinds.

The "neighbour from hell" Darren’s family lived in the adjacent property in Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, Lancashire.

The sentence:

After a two-day sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Greenham was jailed for fifteen years and two months.


According to Recorder Robert Altham, the defendant was intoxicated at the time of cutting the pipe and thus was unaware of the obvious smell and sound of the gas leak. He said that it was a miracle that no one else was killed.



Before being extracted from the rubble, the mother of George Vicky Hinds was trapped for two hours.

Juxtaposed Life:

The judge said that George's mum and dad still live in a caravan after losing their home and all possessions and had to borrow money. He added that the incident has "placed a stain" on the relationship between the couple.

Yesterday, Mr. Hinds told the court that he had lost his son and his absolute world just because Greenham wanted to make a few quid by cutting a gas pipe.

FAQs:

1. What can trigger a gas explosion?
   A simple spark, flame, or fire.
2. How common are gas leak deaths?
   In the United States, nearly 17 people die each year.