Drug dealers who killed elderly couple in fire jailed

A drug-dealer who ordered an arson attack which killed an elderly couple in their home has been handed a life sentence for their manslaughter.

Sheila Jackson, 83, and her partner Eric Greener, 77, died in hospital after their house in South John Street, St Helens, was set alight on 15 July 2025.

Kevin Weetman, 34, will serve a minimum of 25 years in prison after being cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

Kylie Maynard, 37, who provided information about the address, was jailed for 23 years after being convicted of manslaughter while Lee Owens, 46, who helped set the fire was jailed for 13-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to the same charge.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Jackson's daughter, Sharon Jackson, said "That night haunts me and my family and will do for the rest of our lives."

Describing the moment she saw her fatally injured mother at the hospital, she said: "She was black, her eyes were black. She was burned and blistered. I couldn't love her or hug her."

Sharon said her mother had been organising a surprise birthday party for her when she was killed, which she said "turned into me organising a double funeral".

A statement from Eric Greener's daughter Alison said: "The thought of him trying to put the fire out when he could hardly walk keeps me awake at night

There were tears in the public gallery as the victim impact statements were read out.

The jury had heard that the intended victim of the fire was Sheila Jackson's son George Jackson, who sometimes lived at the house.

Nigel Power, KC, prosecuting, had said he was the target of the attack because he had refused to sell drugs for Weetman in return for "free" cocaine.

Power told jurors: "Mr Weetman resolved to take action to prevent a loss of 'face' - 'face' is all important in the drug world - and set in motion a plan to kill or at least cause really seriously harm to George Jackson by setting fire to his house in the middle of the night."

The court heard drug addict Owens was dispatched to the house along with 40-year-old Paul 'Smigger' Smith - who died of a suspected drug overdose before he could be charged.

Merseyside Police said it was still investigating the death of Smith, who the jury heard was severely beaten by Weetman before being sent to carry out the arson attack.

The court heard Maynard, who sold drugs for Weetman, provided details of the address and phone records showed her in contact with the pair before and after the attack.

Weetman and Maynard had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine before the trial began.

Power said a month before the fire George Jackson had helped Kylie Maynard after she was robbed of cocaine near a canal in St Helens, where she had been selling drugs from a tent on behalf of Weetman.

On 6 June 2025 Jackson, who had been buying cocaine from Maynard, found her in a "distressed state" and took her to his mother's house to get something to eat and wash her clothes.

She ended up staying for a couple of nights, the jury heard.

When Weetman found out he gave George Jackson cocaine worth several hundred pounds as a "reward" for looking after Maynard.

When Jackson picked up the cocaine he was asked if he wanted to "work" for Weetman selling drugs, but said he turned the offer down.

A few days after he received the drugs Jackson got a phone call again asking if he wanted work dealing drugs.

When he again said no, Weetman was described as replying "what about my dough?" - although Jackson told the jury there were no direct threats.

George Jackson was out with a friend when the fire was set, but his mother and her partner were home.

Judge Mr Justice Jay described the attack as "an appalling crime which resulted in the untimely death of two innocent people caught up in the sordid and brutal world of drug dealing".

In a joint statement issued after the sentencing hearing, the families of Jackson and Greener added: "Sheila and Eric throughout their long, amazing lives showed nothing but love towards each other, and to those all around them.

"They were the loveliest, kindest, funniest, caring, most beautiful people to ever exist.

"They were the life and soul of the party, they were the Queen & King of our family. They were the glue that held us all together."