Philpott killings ‘could not have been predicted’

The deaths of the six Philpott children in a house fire started by their parents “could not have been predicted or prevented”, a serious case review has found.
Mick PhilpottMick Philpott
Mick Philpott

The report carried out by the Derby Safeguarding Children Board in the aftermath of the tragedy found that while various professionals who had contact with the family could not have foreseen the fire, there were chances to get to know the family better.

A statement from the board said: “The board concludes that the tragic deaths of the children could not have been predicted or prevented.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“However, given the notoriety of the father, the incidents of domestic abuse and visibility of the children, there were some opportunities to get to know the family better although this would not have led to professionals becoming aware that there were plans to deliberately set fire to the house when the children were sleeping.”

Mick and Mairead Philpott were jailed in April last year, along with their friend Paul Mosley, after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Jade Philpott and her brothers John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden and Duwayne.

The children’s parents and Mosley had hatched a plan to frame Philpott’s former mistress who had recently left the family.

The serious case review found that the living arrangements at Victory Road were “unorthodox and not one that professionals often come across” because prior to the fire, Mick Philpott had lived at home with his wife and his former mistress, along with their 11 children. At the time of the blaze he lived in the council house with just his wife and the six children who died in the fire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The serious case review said that agency checks not long before the fire would have revealed “happy, well-adjusted children” but available information would have confirmed Mick Philpott as “manipulative and controlling” but there was little known at the time about violence in the household, and no grounds for statutory intervention.

The report stated that the set-up at Victory Road was “not kept secret” and known to a number of agencies, as well as being well-known through Mick Philpott’s appearances on television and in newspapers as he appealed for a bigger council house.

Records reviewed included several references to the unusual adult relationships, the report said, “but none indicate any concerns”.

Various professionals who visited the house commented positively on the family atmosphere and how Mick Philpott engaged with his children, and saw no problems between the two women.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The serious case review said of Mick Philpott: “While he was known to be challenging to some professionals and in the media, there does not appear to have been any reflection or professional curiosity as to what he might be like at home and the impact of this on his family. There is also no information on the father’s history or any exploration of his experience of childhood. Several agencies did not know of his violent past; had they, they may have considered their assessment of him differently at the time of their involvement.”

Philpott was convicted in 1978 for attempted murder and wounding with intent on a former girlfriend and her mother. Following his release from prison because he did not have any children, nor was his offence against any, there would have been no requirement for the local authority to be alerted.

In 2006 there was an assessment by agencies concerning domestic violence against Mairead Philpott but this was “explained away as insignificant by the family”.

But the report added: “However, if health staff had been aware at the time of the father’s earlier conviction, it is likely that this incident would have been cause for greater concern and investigation.”