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Derby fire deaths: Philpotts and Mosley jailed

Mick and Mairead Philpott and Paul Mosley were convicted on Tuesday

A father convicted of killing six of his children in a fire at his Derby house has been jailed for life at Nottingham Crown Court.

Mick and Mairead Philpott and Paul Mosley were convicted on Tuesday

Mick Philpott was told he would serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.

He was convicted of manslaughter on Tuesday together with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley, who were both given 17-year sentences.

Mrs Justice Thirlwall told Philpott he was “the driving force behind this shockingly dangerous enterprise”.

The trial heard he plotted to set his house alight to frame his former mistress, Lisa Willis, amid a custody battle over their children.

If he gained custody, he hoped Miss Willis would return to live with him.

‘Children’s terror’

The judge told Philpott: “You could not stand the fact that she had crossed you.

“You were determined to make sure she came back and you began to put together your plan.”

The judge said the children were subjected to a terrifying ordeal.

She said: “Their terror was the price they were going to pay for your callous selfishness.

“In fact, they paid with their six young lives.”

She told Philpott that he had “no moral compass”, adding: “Your guiding principle is what Mick Philpott wants he gets.”

The judge told Mosley and Mairead Philpott they would serve half of their sentences in prison before being released on licence.

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