Salford house fire: Two men jailed for life after petrol bomb attack in Greater Manchester that killed four children

Two men have been jailed four life for the murder of four children in a petrol bomb attack on a house in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 25, were found guilty of murdering siblings Demi, 15, Brandon, 8, Lacie, 7, and Lia Pearson aged three at their home in Walkden in December.

Bolland was handed four life sentences at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday and told he must serve a minimum of 40 years for their deaths.

Worrall was also given four life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum term of 37 years.

Courtney Brierley, 20, who was cleared of their murders but found guilty of four counts of manslaughter, was locked up for 21 years.

The court heard how Bolland and Worrall, fuelled by drink and drugs, filled two glass bottles with £1.50 of petrol bought from a local garage, stuffing the tops with tissue paper as they prepared the attack at 5am on December 11.

After the kitchen window of Michelle Pearson's home was put through, two lit petrol bombs were thrown inside. Bolland hurled his bottle which "exploded" near the stairs, blocking the only exit to the ground floor and trapping the victims upstairs.

Within seconds flames engulfed the three-bedroom mid-terrace home on Jackson Street.

Mrs Pearson, 36, woke up and screamed: "Not the kids! Not my kids!" and dialled 999, but she was overcome with heat and smoke before completing the call.

The children, who were sleeping in a front bedroom, all died in the blaze.

Their severely injured mother was rescued with her youngest daughter, Lia, who died in hospital two days later.

Mrs Pearson's son Kyle, 17, had been involved in a "petty" feud with Bolland over damage to the defendant's £200 car, prompting a series of tit-for-tat attacks.

Kyle managed to escape with a friend, Bobby Harris.

Bolland was found guilty of four counts of murder and three of attempted murder.

Worrall was convicted of four counts of murder and three of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Brierley, Bolland's girlfriend at the time, was accused of encouraging the attack and was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter, but cleared of three counts of attempted murder.

CCTV shown to the jury showed Bolland and Worrall at the address at 4.55am for one minute and five seconds. The cameras recorded a flash then a larger second one from the petrol bombs, before they fled.

Neighbours ran out to help but were beaten back by the heat and flames as multiple 999 calls were made.

Three fire engines scrambled to the scene, the first arriving at 5.04am.

Bolland and Brierley were arrested at around 6pm on the day of the fire, after contacting police, walking hand-in-hand to the officers who arrived to arrest them.

Worrall was arrested, "shaking profusely", the day after as he stepped out of the shower at his mother's house on Coronation Street, Salford.

Bolland admitted throwing the second petrol bomb but said he intended only to damage the house which he thought was not occupied.

"I heard like a big whoosh. I didn't look back," he told the jury.

Worrall said he thought they were only going to set fire to wheelie bins and denied throwing a petrol bomb.

Brierley said she did not know the two men had petrol bombs and claims Bolland had a "controlling influence" over her during their "toxic" relationship.

Mrs Pearson is still "very, very poorly" and there is a "serious risk" she may not survive if she catches an infection to her "dreadful" burns.