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Man jailed for girl's fire murder Man jailed for girl's fire murder
(20 minutes later)
A man who killed a three-year-old girl by setting fire to her home in a revenge attack has been jailed for a minimum of 28 years. A man who murdered a three-year-old girl by setting fire to her family home in a revenge attack has been jailed for at least 28 years.
Francesca Bimpson was unable to escape the flames and suffered massive burns, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Francesca Bimpson suffered massive burns when Graham Heaps, 44, started the fire last December because he was bitter about a break-up with her aunt.
Graham Heaps, 44, started the fire because he was bitter at the break-up of his relationship with her aunt. Heaps, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, south Wales, poured petrol though the letterbox of the house in Liverpool.
Heaps, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, south Wales, poured petrol though the letterbox of the house in Everton. Mr Justice Henriques said Heaps was "motivated by sheer spite".
Francesca died in hospital three weeks after the fire in December last year. Francesca died in hospital three weeks after the fire at the house in the Everton area of the city.
Life sentence Your intent was, I believe, to burn, that is to kill, this whole family in their beds as they slept Mr Justice Henriques
Francesca's mother Eleanor Skelhorne, 37, suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation in the fire and her father Kieron Bimpson, also 37, suffered leg injuries jumping from a first-floor window. Her mother Eleanor Skelhorne, 37, suffered minor injuries while her father Kieron Bimpson, also 37, suffered leg injuries after jumping from a first-floor window of the house to escape the flames.
Francesca's sisters, Anne-Marie, then 17 months, Christina, eight, and 14-year-old brother, Kieron, were treated for the effects of smoke. Francesca's sisters, Anne-Marie, then aged 17 months, Christina, aged eight, and her 14-year-old brother, Kieron, were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.
Heaps was given a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of murder by a jury on Monday.Heaps was given a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of murder by a jury on Monday.
Mr Justice Henriques told him he must serve a minimum of 28 years before being eligible for parole. The judge told him he must serve a minimum of 28 years before being eligible for parole.
Francesca suffered severe burns and died three weeks later
"Your shocking, wicked act of setting fire to a family home with four children asleep in their beds was, in my judgment, motivated by sheer spite," he said.
"It was a vengeful and cowardly attack on a family of six in their own home.
"You knew the Bimpson family, you had been a guest in their home, you had met all the children, you knew they had a babe in arms and a child of three, you knew her name - Francesca.
"I have no doubt a significant volume of petrol was introduced through their letterbox.
"Your intent was, I believe, to burn, that is to kill, this whole family in their beds as they slept."