Mick Philpott, who was charged with six counts of manslaughter after a fire he started resulted in the death of six children, has been sentenced to life in prison.

The judge at Nottingham Crown Court stated that he would serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars.

Philpott’s wife Mairead, along with Paul Mosley were each sentenced to 17 years in prison, and were told that they would each serve half of that term.

The six children, who died from smoke inhalation, were aged from five to 13. Their names were Duwayne, Jade, John, Jack, Jesse and Jayden.

They were all Mairead’s children; Philpott fathered all but the eldest, Duwayne, and was the father of 17 children in total, by five different women.

Sky News is reporting that Mick Philpott made obscene hand gestures as he left the dock. Sentencing the trio, Mrs Justice Thirlwall said that while they were all responsible for the deaths, she hadn’t “the slightest doubt” that Mick Philpott was “the driving force”.

Mairead Philpott wept as she was jailed while her husband looked down at the floor, wiping tears from his eyes.

Thirlwall said Philpott was a “disturbingly dangerous man”, who had “no moral compass.”

Family members in the court applauded as the judge finished her sentencing.

“Die, Mick, die,” one shouted, while another called out: “Your own babies.”

- Additional reporting by AFP

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