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| Heysham explosion: Dad's anguish as boy killed by 'selfish' drunk | Heysham explosion: Dad's anguish as boy killed by 'selfish' drunk |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Stephen Hinds says "no-one can understand how much it hurts" after his son George died in a gas blast | Stephen Hinds says "no-one can understand how much it hurts" after his son George died in a gas blast |
| Stephen Hinds says "no-one can understand how much it hurts" after his son George died in a gas blast | Stephen Hinds says "no-one can understand how much it hurts" after his son George died in a gas blast |
| The father of a two-year-old boy who died in a gas blast has said his killer has "wrecked my life" for the sake of a bit of scrap metal. | The father of a two-year-old boy who died in a gas blast has said his killer has "wrecked my life" for the sake of a bit of scrap metal. |
| George Hinds died after neighbour Darren Greenham cut a pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in 2021. | George Hinds died after neighbour Darren Greenham cut a pipe in his own home in Heysham, Lancashire, in 2021. |
| His dad Stephen said his family had been "devastated" by Greenham, "just for selling copper". | His dad Stephen said his family had been "devastated" by Greenham, "just for selling copper". |
| He said it was "a selfish act of somebody stupid that couldn't be bothered working". | He said it was "a selfish act of somebody stupid that couldn't be bothered working". |
| Greenham used an angle grinder to cut a pipe in order to sell it, while drunk and under the influence of drugs, in the early hours of 16 May 2021. | Greenham used an angle grinder to cut a pipe in order to sell it, while drunk and under the influence of drugs, in the early hours of 16 May 2021. |
| The subsequent explosion killed George and left his parents buried under the rubble. | The subsequent explosion killed George and left his parents buried under the rubble. |
| George was a "character" and his family has been devastated by his death, his dad says | George was a "character" and his family has been devastated by his death, his dad says |
| Mr Hinds told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I miss him with my life. I wish it was me that wasn't here and George still here. | Mr Hinds told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I miss him with my life. I wish it was me that wasn't here and George still here. |
| "No one can understand how much it hurts." | "No one can understand how much it hurts." |
| If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC's Action Line or contact the Samaritans. | If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC's Action Line or contact the Samaritans. |
| He said: "Imagine following George's ambulance to the hospital... and then two minutes later, they're telling us there's nothing more they can do for him - he's dead. | |
| "So really from playing in the garden with him on Saturday teatime to going in the mortuary to see him on Sunday morning. Who would ever do that?" | "So really from playing in the garden with him on Saturday teatime to going in the mortuary to see him on Sunday morning. Who would ever do that?" |
| Two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged in the blast | Two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged in the blast |
| Greenham planned to sell the pipework for scrap metal, boasting that he could make £400 to buy a car. | Greenham planned to sell the pipework for scrap metal, boasting that he could make £400 to buy a car. |
| He was jailed for 15 years on Wednesday after admitting manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. | He was jailed for 15 years on Wednesday after admitting manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas. |
| Mr Hinds said: "He's deliberately done what he's done... to try and gain some money. | Mr Hinds said: "He's deliberately done what he's done... to try and gain some money. |
| "I struggle every day." | "I struggle every day." |
| Darren Greenham was imprisoned for 15 years | Darren Greenham was imprisoned for 15 years |
| Mr Hinds described George as "a character", who would joke around with him, adding: "When I came home from work, he would say, 'Hiya Steve' and then he'd run off and then he'd say, 'Hiya Dad'. | Mr Hinds described George as "a character", who would joke around with him, adding: "When I came home from work, he would say, 'Hiya Steve' and then he'd run off and then he'd say, 'Hiya Dad'. |
| "Words can't describe how much I miss that." | "Words can't describe how much I miss that." |
| He remembers his partner Vicki holding their son "for the last time, and I put him in his final bed - in his coffin". | He remembers his partner Vicki holding their son "for the last time, and I put him in his final bed - in his coffin". |
| He said their relationship had been significantly tested since George's death. | He said their relationship had been significantly tested since George's death. |
| "We've split up about four times," he said. "Vicki has gone through cancer and she was always told she couldn't have kids [so] for her pride and joy to go - it's devastating what one person can do to just try and make some money." | |
| George's parents Stephen Hinds (centre) and Vicki Studholme (right) outside court | George's parents Stephen Hinds (centre) and Vicki Studholme (right) outside court |
| The couple have been living in a caravan after their home was destroyed. They had clothes donated to them after losing all their belongings. | The couple have been living in a caravan after their home was destroyed. They had clothes donated to them after losing all their belongings. |
| "I don't sleep, I don't eat, [Greenham's] wrecked my life," he said. "The last 18 months have been so hard, and people wouldn't understand how hard they've been." | |
| He added: "I understand life is horrible to some people but we didn't deserve it." | He added: "I understand life is horrible to some people but we didn't deserve it." |
| Mr Hinds said the local community in Morecambe had been "second to none" in their support for his family. | Mr Hinds said the local community in Morecambe had been "second to none" in their support for his family. |
| "They've done everything for us. I can't thank them enough," he added. | |
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