We live on street where the Philpotts burned their 6 kids alive… neighbours died from stress – we’ll never get over it
HAUNTED residents died from stress after living next to the fire-destroyed house where the Philpotts burnt their kids to death, neighbours have revealed.
Locals in Derby are still rocked by the deaths of the six youngsters 10 years on and urged authorities never to release vile Mike Philpott, 56, from prison.
Today is the tenth anniversary since Philpott killed his children with his wife Mairead. He is serving a life sentence with a minimum 15 years for manslaughter.
David, 62, who used to live two doors from Philpott, told The Sun: “People don’t forget. People remember it because it was such an awful event.
“The stress was so bad that the elderly couple next door both died shortly after it all happened. The memory brings people down.”
An elderly woman who lived opposite the house added: “It made me ill when it happened and I try not to think about it. It was a trauma for all of us who live here.”
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Philpott had 17 kids and lived with his wife Mairead and mistress Lisa Willis. Mike and Mairead had planned to frame Lisa for the fire.
Mairead, 40, was released in November after serving half a 17-year manslaughter sentence. The Sun published exclusive pictures of her this month at a pub with a friend.
The house was demolished in 2013 and turned into five-starter homes for young families.
And a multi-coloured memorial bench in a nearby play area reads: “Angels may you forever be free, together for eternity, in a place filled with love, Jayden, Jade, Jack, John, Jesse and Duwayne.”
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Shift supervisor Natasha Oakley, 28, said: “Everyone was distraught at the time and it is not something we should ever forget.
“They have built new housing there now but it still affects the road quite a lot.
"People don’t forget and it is important that we do remember how cruel and horrible some parents can be.
“He knew what he was doing and as far as I’m concerned he should never be freed. He should serve his whole life inside.”
People don't forget. The memory brings people down.
Resident David, 62
Adam Davey, 33, who lives on the road, added: “I think he is safer inside than outside. If he does come out there will be a lot of people looking for him.
“You can’t forget the loss of six kids’ lives.
"It certainly still affects everyone around here and there are usually some flowers laid outside where the house stood on the anniversary.”
Carer Chanazi Ngaru, 47, added: “Sometimes I drive past where the house was and it feels surreal that something so awful took place right there.
SICK CRIMES
“I don’t think those children got enough justice.
"The mother is already out and, to my mind, they should have been charged with murder.
“He should not be released. If he does what is to stop him coming out and having more children and trying to get them to fund his life all over again.”
For six years before the fire. Philpott had been dubbed Shameless Mick for his benefits lifestyle and demands for better housing.
He had turned himself into a mini-celebrity with appearances on the Jeremy Kyle Show and in a documentary where former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe moved in with the family.
Stay-at-home dad Tyrone, 28, said: “I think it just played to his jack-the-lad image and perhaps made him even cockier.
“I have moved here since it happened and people still talk about what a disaster it was.
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“Nobody has anything but 100 per cent anger towards him. There would be outrage if he got released.
“But it is a close-knit community and people say that in a strange way the tragedy has brought people closer together.”
