Evil dad Mick Philpott who killed six of his children in horror blaze plotting bid for freedom

ARSONIST Mick Philpott, serving 14 years for starting a house blaze which killed six of his children, is making a bid for freedom, The Sun can reveal. Philpott, 69, is preparing to apply for parole, for which he is eligible next May, and has told friends he reckons he has been “rehabilitated” in jail. Mick Philpott is serving 14 years for starting a house blaze which killed six of his children Credit: PA:Press Association The blaze killed Jade Philpott, ten, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six and Jayden, five. Duwayne, 13, died days later in hospital Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures A source said the father of 17 had been “emboldened” by coverage of Labour’s now paused plan to release lags after half their sentence — even though it does not apply to him. Jobless Philpott, his then wife Mairead, 45, and friend Paul Mosley started the fire by pouring petrol in the hall at his three-bed semi in Derby in May, 2012. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! His aim was to frame an ex-lover he was in a custody battle with and emerge a hero by rescuing the trapped children. The scheme — also aimed at getting a bigger house — went horribly wrong as the blaze took hold. READ MORE ON PRISON RELEASES It killed Jade Philpott, ten, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six and Jayden, five. Duwayne, 13, died days later in hospital. Philpott, already notorious after appearing on TV shows about his layabout lifestyle, got 15 years in April 2013, reduced by 307 days to allow for time spent on remand. His then-wife and Mosley both got 17 years. All three were convicted of manslaughter at Nottingham crown court. Most read in The Sun Judge Mr Justice Thirlwall said Mick Philpott had been “the driving force” behind the arson plot and had “no moral compass”. Evil dad Philpott’s aim was to frame an ex-lover he was in a custody battle with and emerge a hero by rescuing the trapped children Credit: PA The scheme — also aimed at getting a bigger house — went horribly wrong as the blaze took hold Credit: Handout Parole hearings for long-term lags are scheduled automatically and a source said Philpott, who is held at tough HMP Wakefield, West Yorks, had been allowed to speak to external solicitors about his case. The source said: “The thought of him being freed is horrifying. “It seems like only yesterday that the news of him killing those innocent children in the fire was all over the news. “He hasn’t served enough time and how can he ever be rehabilitated? It is truly shocking.” Philpott got 15 years in April 2013, reduced by 307 days to allow for time spent on remand Credit: SWNS:South West News Service Damaged exterior of home, pictured in 2012 Credit: PA:Press Association Mairead Philpott, was released in November 2020 after serving half her sentence. Mosley was freed in 2021, returned to jail for licence breaches, and released again in 2023. He died aged 58 in October, 2025. Our source said of Philpott: “He’s been emboldened by the government saying jails are full and is trying to cash in on that. “There is also the fact his co-conspirators have been freed. “Inmates get access to advice and legal papers inside so can prepare for cases well in advance. It’s sickening to think he could come out but he’ll have to convince a Parole Board and a Justice Secretary.” The Parole Board said it had not received a referral about Philpott. The Prison Service said the Parole Board had to decide if a lag can be “safely managed in the community”. Comment now