Paul Mosley, the man whose involvement in one of the UK’s most notorious child-killing arson cases shocked the nation, has died in prison at the age of 58. Mosley, convicted of manslaughter for his role in the 2012 Derby house fire that claimed the lives of six children, passed away in early October 2025, according to family members and confirmed by multiple news outlets including BBC and DerbyshireLive. The cause is believed to be a heart attack, though official confirmation is pending.
The tragedy that led to Mosley’s conviction unfolded on May 11, 2012, at a modest house on Victory Road in Derby. That night, a blaze—deliberately set—swept through the home, killing Jade Philpott, 10; John, nine; Jack, eight; Jesse, six; Jayden, five; and Duwayne, 13, who died days later in hospital. The fire was started by Mick Philpott, with the help of his wife Mairead and their friend Mosley, in a plot that prosecutors later described as “a plan that went horribly wrong,” as reported by BBC.
The twisted motive behind the arson was to frame Philpott’s former lover, Lisa Willis, and regain custody of her children after she left the family home. The Philpotts, along with Mosley, intended to appear as heroes by rescuing the children from the fire, but the plan spiraled out of control when too much petrol was used, causing the blaze to rage uncontrollably. Prosecutors at Nottingham Crown Court, where the trio stood trial in 2013, laid bare the full horror of the plot, which included an attempt to secure a larger council house and, as later emerged, to benefit from community donations intended for the children’s funerals.
During the trial, Mrs Justice Thirlwall made clear her view of the events: “It was clear the fire was Mick Philpott’s idea. Mairead’s children died because she put her husband first.” While the precise details of Mosley’s involvement in igniting the fire remained unclear, the judge stated she was “quite sure” he had removed petrol containers from the scene and had been “prepared to go along with the plan and to join in with it” to please his “then friend, Michael Philpott.” The children, she said, were subjected to “a terrifying ordeal.”
Police surveillance after the fire uncovered even more disturbing details. According to Daily Mail and corroborated by court records, Philpott was recorded in a hotel room with Mairead discussing the fire and instructing her to “stick to your story.” The surveillance also revealed Philpott encouraged Mosley to have sex with Mairead—sometimes watched by Philpott, sometimes with him joining in—a sickening subplot that only deepened public revulsion.
Initially charged with murder, the trio’s charges were reduced to manslaughter when it became clear their reckless actions, while depraved, were not intended to kill the children. The judge described the plot as “a wicked and dangerous plan” that was “outside the comprehension of any right-thinking person.”
Mosley was sentenced to 17 years in prison at age 46. He was released on parole in May 2021, but was recalled to jail the following year for breaching the terms of his release. In November 2023, the Parole Board granted him release again, stating his “imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.” His release was subject to strict conditions, including a ban on returning to Derby and restrictions on his contacts. Despite these measures, his release was met with outrage from the victims’ families. Mairead’s mother, Vera Duffy, told Daily Mail, “He should stay behind bars. Do I think he should be out? No – he should stay behind bars with Mick [Philpott] where he belongs.”
Mairead Philpott was sentenced to 17 years in prison but served just half before being released on licence in November 2020. Mick Philpott, the ringleader, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years and remains incarcerated at HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire. He will be eligible for parole in 2028. The family home where the fire took place was demolished in September 2013, a symbolic gesture to help the local community move on from the horror.
The case remains infamous not just for the scale of the tragedy but for the disturbing motivations and actions of those involved. Philpott, a father of 17, was known for his chaotic home life, which included living with both his wife and his lover, Lisa Willis, under one roof. When Willis left with her children, Philpott’s plan to regain them spiraled into the fatal arson. Police also revealed Philpott had a violent past, including a conviction for stabbing a schoolgirl lover 27 times—a detail that shocked even seasoned observers.
Mosley, for his part, never admitted guilt, even after his conviction. A family source, quoted in the Daily Mail, said, “Mosley has never admitted his guilt despite clearly being involved. He has killed six kids and is free to walk the streets. It’s appalling. He’s an evil monster. How can someone like that be let out?” Andy Lyons, partner of Mosley’s sister, described him as “sick, deluded and callous beyond belief.”
The Derby house fire case continues to cast a long shadow over the city and the country. Hundreds of tributes were left outside the demolished home in the weeks after the fire, marking the immense loss and the community’s grief. The story’s notoriety has led to documentaries and ongoing public debate about the criminal justice system’s handling of such offenders and the parole process for those convicted of the most serious crimes.
With Mosley’s death, one chapter of this grim saga closes. For many, the pain and questions linger: how could such a plan have been conceived, and how can justice and healing ever truly be achieved for the families and the community left behind?
