AN EX-PAL of evil mum Mairead Philpott, who killed her six kids in a house fire, says she should “never” have been released from jail early.
Husband Mick Philpott – who masterminded the depraved plot – was caged for life with a minimum term of 15 years in April 2013, and could also be released early from prison in just two-and-a-half years time.
The revelation earlier this month that one of his accomplices in the killings, best pal Paul Mosley, has died following his early release from prison has sent shockwaves through the tightly-knit community in Derby where the pair lived.
Mairead, her partner’s other accomplice, was also released – after serving just half of her 17-year term in November 2020.
But many believe that should never have been an option following her parole hearing.
Her one-time friend, Vicky, still lives just a few doors from where the Philpott’s six children – Duwayne, 13, his sister Jade, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jessie, six and Jayden, five, all tragically died in the blaze.
Vicky, 42, said she felt “disgusted” when she found out Mairead had been released early.
“She is a monster, too, and should never have been let out early,” she told The Sun.
After what she and Mick did, they should both be made to rot in jail.
Vicky, former friend to Mairead
“Paul Mosley too, he shouldn’t have been released early. It’s a disgrace and an insult to the memory of those six wonderful children.”
Others in Victoria Road were also appalled when they discovered Mosley had been released.
He was out of prison on licence having served half of his 17-year sentence and was found dead at a property in Portsmouth on Saturday, October 4.
Hampshire Police confirmed the 58-year-old’s death and said his next of kin had been told and that a file would be prepared for the coroner.
According to a family member, he is believed to have recently suffered a heart attack.
Mosley was released on parole in 2021 before being sent back to prison the following year for breaching the terms of his release.
He was granted parole again in 2023, but released from HMP Durham in January 2024.
The Ministry of Justice said his sentence had been due to end in November 2029.
Now locals fear Philpott too will be released early when his 15-year minimum sentence is reviewed in April 2028.
One, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s clear that the fire was Mick’s idea and he was the ringleader, but if the other two were considered fit for release, then it’s only a matter of time before he cons them into letting him out too.
“As a society, we’re just too lenient. Mick Philpott is a piece of scum who set fire to his house knowing his six kids were locked inside. What kind of person does that?
“He should never see daylight again. I want him to rot in jail and never come out unless he’s in a coffin, just like his poor children.”
The evil trio were found guilty of six counts of manslaughter following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
Philpott was jailed for life while Mosley and Mairead Philpott were sentenced to 17 years.
The court heard how Mick masterminded the horror, enlisting his wife and Mosley to ignite a fire at the bottom of their stairs.
They hoped to get a bigger council house and Mick was meant to rescue the kids but was beaten back by flames.
The evil dad hoped having custody of the kids would boost his benefits again and told neighbours his ex had threatened to burn the house down.
Sickeningly, in the wake of the deaths, Philpott put on an extravagant
show of grief.
He and Mairead sobbed as they appealed to the public at a press conference to help “catch their children’s killer.”
Sentencing the killers following a trial in 2013, Justice Mrs Kate Thirlwell KC said: “All three of you are responsible for the deliberate setting of that fire. All three of you are responsible for those deaths.
“I have not the slightest doubt that you, Michael Philpott, were the driving force behind this shockingly dangerous enterprise.
“You, Mairead Philpott, the mother of all of those children and you, Paul Mosley, a family friend assisted him.
“It was a wicked and dangerous plan and you (Philpott) put it into effect with the assistance of your two co-defendants.
“You poured petrol on the floor. Paul Mosley was responsible for removing the containers from your home.
“You (Philpott) set light to it and after a short while Mairead Philpott spoke to the emergency services, it became clear that there was no chance of a successful rescue and the children perished.
“You (Mosley) have young children of your own.
“You must have appreciated the appalling risk to which these six children were to be exposed when this fire was started in their home.
“And yet you were prepared to go along with the plan and to join in with it to please your then friend, Michael Philpott.
“I am quite sure that one of your tasks that night was to remove the petrol containers from the scene so that the attack would appear to have come from outside.
“You enjoyed the attention that you gained from your proximity to the fire. You boasted of being arrested and bailed for 6 counts of murder. You could not help telling people that this was a plan that had gone wrong.”
Locals in Victory Road, where the blaze home has long since been pulled down and replaced with a block of flats, said Philpott “got what he deserved” when a fellow inmate beat him up at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire earlier this year, as reported exclusively by The Sun.
Philpott was left “battered and bruised” in the brutal jail beating after being ambushed and attacked by another lag wielding a weapon.
Philpott, 68, had bruises and lumps on his head after the inmate battered him with a metal container.
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.
“The other lad pounced on him and whacked him quite a few times from behind.
“It was one bloke on his own – someone quite a bit younger than Philpott and it happened really quickly on the landing.
“There was a huge commotion, an alarm was going off and guards rushed in to help.
“Otherwise it could have been a lot worse for Philpott.”
One local in Victoria Road said this week: “It absolutely serves Philpott right. He’ll never forget a beating like that, will he? It’s the least he deserves for what he did.”
