A man has admitted killing a ‘beautiful’ two-year-old boy who died in a massive gas explosion that completely flattened two homes.
Darren Greenham, 44, admitted manslaughter and theft offences after George Hinds perished in a fireball that ripped through his family’s semi-detached house in May last year.
Four others, including his heartbroken parents, Vicky Studholme and Stephen Hinds, were injured in the blast, and a third home was also seriously damaged.
Lancashire Police said they were originally called to the site in Heysham, Lancashire, at about 2.40am on May 16, 2021.
And following investigations, they found the explosion was caused by a gas pipeline being cut in a property adjacent to George’s family home.
George Hinds, two, tragically died in a fireball that ripped through his family’s semi-detached house in Heysham, Lancashire, in May last year
Darren, 44, and Sharon Greenham, 51, were charged with manslaughter over George’s death. Darren Greenham appeared in Preston Crown Court yesterday to enter his guilty pleas, while Sharon Greenham is set to stand trial in October
They later arrested Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, both of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster, who were charged with manslaughter and theft.
Darren Greenham appeared in Preston Crown Court yesterday to enter his guilty pleas, while Sharon Greenham is set to stand trial in October.
Shocked locals described hearing a sound ‘like a bomb going off’ at the time of the huge explosion, which caused debris to cover nearby streets and fields.
One nearby resident said: ‘I heard this enormous blast then seconds later loads of banging.
‘It sounded like stuff was smashing into my roof so I thought the chimney might have collapsed.
‘I got up and went outside and realised there had been an explosion on the road.
‘It was utter devastation. The houses that were there before have disappeared.’
Another added: ‘I woke up after hearing a loud blast in the early hours. It sounded like a bomb going off.
Pictured: Emergency services are seen at the site of the explosion in Heysham on May 16, 2021
‘It shook the whole house. I got up straight away and ran out to see what had happened and there was smoke and fire everywhere.
‘I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was like a warzone.’
And after George’s death was confirmed, his parents described him as a ‘beautiful little angel’
In a tribute, they said: ‘We are devastated at the loss of our beautiful George.
‘He was so precious to us. We have no words to describe how we feel and just want time to ourselves to come to terms with what has happened.
‘Our beautiful little angel grew his wings today.’