Philpott Jailed for Life

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Last Wednesday Mike Philpott was jailed for life by Mrs Justice Thirlwall after being convicted of the manslaughter of six of his children.

Whilst many individuals, including the Chancellor George Osborne, have been sidetracked into considering whether the killings are connected to the welfare state, Mrs Justice Thirwell focused more on Mr Philpott’s history and his relationships with women.

In her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Thirwell made no suggestion that Philpott’s actions were driven by welfare or benefits.

Instead, Thirlwell recounted how Philpott’s had almost killed two women when he was in his twenties and employed as a soldier, not receiving any benefits at that time. Philpott, she commented was simply a violent and jealous man who liked to control vulnerable women. She spoke about his previous conviction for breaking into a girlfriend’s house and stabbing her repeatedly. Whilst she acknowledged that he had served his sentence for the crime she stated “you have used that conviction as a means of controlling women, terrifying them in what you might do.”

In addition, it had been suggested in the media that Philpott’s also liked to keep his partners pregnant at all times, an element commonly seen in abuse cases. It was mentioned in the Independent that the children were perhaps not bred to claim benefits as has been suggested by some but possibly as a means of controlling their mothers. Philpott then commenced court proceedings to gain custody of his children from ex wife’s and girlfriends, seeking to reinforce that element of control.

“Women were your chattels, You bark the orders and they obey. You were kingpin and no one else mattered” said Justice Thirwell.

It was this controlling nature that led Philpott to the plot that resulted in the deaths of six of his children. Philpott’s had been angered by his girlfriend Lisa Willis who had left Philpott taking her children with her. He decided to “frame” Lisa to get revenge and hatched the arson plot.

The lessons to be learnt from this tragedy are clear. Separated parents should do their best for their children and their health and welfare should be the absolute priority. It is all too easy for focus to shift to payback for their predicament and it is in these cases that the children ultimately suffer.