Philpott children were 'happy and well looked after' court told ahead of parents' sentencing Six children who died in a house fire started by their parents lived happy lives and were well nourished and looked after, a court heard. Barristers acting for Mick and Mairead Philpott, who were found guilty yesterday on six counts of manslaughter for causing the blaze at the family home in Victory Road, Derby, last May, were - up until the tragedy - "good parents" Once again there were emotional scenes in the courtroom with angry exchanges from the public gallery aimed at the defendants. In mitigation ahead of sentencing, Nottingham Crown Court was told by counsel for Mr Philpott, 56, that he was a "very good father" who had never meant to harm the children or been allowed to grieve over their deaths. The couple started the fire along with their friend Paul Mosley, 46, who was also found guilty of six counts of manslaughter, in a bid to frame Mr Philpott's former lover Lisa Willis as part of a bitter custody battle after she walked out of the family home. Anthony Orchard QC, for Mr Philpott said: "All the witnesses, even Lisa Willis, agree on this. There's no evidence at any stage that he deliberately harmed any of them," he said. The barrister said his client's bizarre behaviour in the wake of the blaze had been consistent with symptoms of extreme grief. "He will have to live with the hatred and hostility of the press and the public for the rest of his life," he added. Judge Mrs Justice Kate Thirlwall, interrupted the mitigation to point out that there had been violence in every one of the father of 17's previous relationships. He was sentenced to seven years in 1978 for the attempted murder of a previous girlfriend and a vicious knife assault on her mother. Shaun Smith QC , for Mairead Philpott, said despite the unusual circumstances in which they were brought up, living for a time with their mother, father and their father's girlfriend, the children were content. He said there was no evidence "any of these children were in any sort of danger or peril prior to that night (of the fire) whatsoever." But again the judge interrupted his suggestion that they had not meant to harm the children, having planned to rescue them before the blaze took hold. "If the plan had been successful the effect on the children would have been this, would it not - they would have been awoken in their beds with their house on fire and their father coming in to rescue them," the judge said. Mr Smith said his client - who had spent 12 of her 32 years with Mr Philpott - had "visible" and "palpable" symptoms of grief. He said she disputed last night's Panorama documentary in which it was claimed she spent little time with her eldest son Duwayne in hospital in Birmingham before he died from his injuries. He said it was an "outrageous suggestion" and she was "filled her with more grief than one can imagine." The barrister argued that she would forever be known forever as a "child killer" and had been dominated by her husband. "She would do whatever he said, whatever he wanted," he said. Sentencing was adjourned until 3pm.