SRC finds Philpott deaths ‘could not have been prevented’

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

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.

“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.