The couple who deliberately set fire to their home while their six children were trapped inside sparked fury across the nation with their sick crimes. As their accomplies dies, we look at where the killers are now
Mick Philpott played the role of the distraught father after his six children were killed in a housefire – but he was hiding a vile secret that would shock the nation.
Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, all died in a devastating fire that ripped through their home in Derby on May 11, 2011.
Sitting alongisde his seemingly heartbroken wife Mairead, Mick wiped away his tears as he begged the public to help find who was responsible for the horror blaze at an emotional press conference.
But their sick web of lies would soon unravel, as the Philpotts were actually behind the fatal arson attack that killed their children. It was all part of a twisted plot to secure a bigger council house, alongside the couple’s pal Paul Mosley – who helped to deliberately start the house fire.
READ MORE: Killer Paul Mosley jailed for manslaughter of six children in house fire dies
The evil trio even planned a ‘get rich quick’ scheme using generous donations from the local community, which were meant to pay for the funerals of the tragic children.
Philpott, the mastermind behind the despicable plan, hoped to frame an ex lover for the fire in a bid to win a custody battle and secure a larger property – but his plan to rescue the kids went horrifically wrong and all six children died in the cramped three-bed home.
Philpott was sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years for manslaughter and was branded a “disturbingly dangerous man with no moral compass” by the judge at the trial. Meanwhile, Mairead and Mosley received 17-year sentences for manslaughter.
Mosley’s family have now confirmed that the killer has died at the age of 58. In 2021, he was released partway through his sentence but was recalled and then later released again in November 2023.
We take a look at where the Philpotts are now after their heinous crimes…
Where is Mick Philpott now?
Philpott is serving out his sentence at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire. He and wife Mairead agreed to a separation while in prison and the couple divorced in 2014, not long after they were convicted.
Philpott’s life inside has been anything but dull. The child killer was allegedly attacked by another lag earlier this year, and was said to be left ‘battered and bruised’.
A source told The Sun: “Philpott was in a bad way after the attack – battered and bruised and with two large and noticeable lumps on the back of his head.”
“No-one had much sympathy,” they added. “That is reserved for the children he killed.”
Philpott is said to have increased security after the reported attack, with the source warning he is ‘the lowest of the low’ and ‘always has a target on his back’.
In 2018, the killer was said to be learning how to play the guitar and had been “practising hard” after he was allowed to have the instrument in his cell at a top-security nick.
A source said: “He is a massive fan of Elvis and plays all his hits, plus other kinds of rock and roll. He is practising hard and should get good because he’s got plenty of time to devote to it.”
The source also revealed Philpott has ballooned to 16 stone by bingeing on sweets, chocolate and crisps since a cigarette ban ended his habit of 100 roll-ups a day. They added: “He used to have a cig on the go all the time. He has also become pretty big these days. At one point he started going to the gym to exercise but it didn’t last.”
He was also reportedly fitted with a free set of false teeth after having all his own rotten ones pulled out, which was paid for by the taxpayer. Philpott will be eligible for parole in 2028 after serving a minimum sentence of 15 years. But he will still need to appear before the Parole Board, who have the final say on whether he still poses a risk to the public.
Where is Mairead Philpott now?
The mother of the six children who were tragically killed has since been freed from prison under a new surname.
In 2020, Mairead was released from HMP Send in Surrey just eight and a half years into her sentence. She was reportedly sent to a hostel and remained under supervision while on license. The killer, now 44, was said to have been offered counselling and life coaching.
At the time of her release, pals reportedly said she was ‘very much hoping for a fresh start’ and was ‘delighted’ to be handed the earliest possible release date.
She also seen tucking into a McDonald’s meal at her bail hostel while celebrating her 40th birthday – a milestone that her six children will never reach. The killer enjoyed a McChicken sandwich and fries biked to the halfway house, followed by a large pink cake.
Her release was slammed by campaigners. Former Tory MP for Mid Derbyshire, Pauline Latham, vowed at the time that she was seeking assurances that the killer mum would not be returning to the area.
She said: “I am disgusted that this foul woman has her liberty while her daughter and five sons lie in their graves. Eight-and-a-half years in jail amounts to her serving less than 18 months for each of those poor children. How can that possibly be right?
“Those in charge of making these decisions need to think longer and harder about the victims and the value of their lives. In addition, this horrible crime is still very raw in Derby and I fear what would happen if she turned up in the city.”
Meanwhile, The Centre for Crime Prevention branded the release “appalling” and called for killers to serve their full sentences for such crimes, The Independent reports.
“The system of automatically releasing criminals like her half way through their sentence means that in cases like this justice is not being done,” David Spencer, research director for the centre, said.