Mairead Philpott loses appeal for cut in 17-year sentence for killing six children in house fire

Mick and Mairead Philpott held a tearful press conference (PA)

Mairead Philpott, who was jailed for 17 years for killing her six children in a house fire, lost a challenge against the length of her sentence rejected today.

Mairead Philpott, 32, was jailed alongside her husband Mick at Nottingham Crown in April after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Jade Philpott and her brothers John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden and Duwayne.

There was applause from the public gallery as Court of Appeal judges sitting at Nottingham Crown Court dismissed a renewed application by Mairead Philpott to challenge her jail term.

In July she lost the first round of a bid to challenge the length of her sentence.

A Judicial Office spokeswoman confirmed that Mrs Philpott had her application for permission to appeal against her sentence refused by a single judge considering it on the papers.

It was then open to her to make a renewed application.

Mick Philpott was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years after being branded a "disturbingly dangerous" man.

His wife, who is likely to be released after serving half of her 17-year term, took part in a plan to set fire to the couple's home in Victory Road in an effort to frame his former mistress.

The children were aged between five and 13.

The hearing will also be broadcast - the first time it will have been able to take place outside London since legislation was passed to allow Court of Appeal hearings to be broadcast.

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara said: "This is another landmark day for justice, for the first time cameras will be able to live broadcast a court hearing outside of London.

"It will give people across the country the opportunity to see and hear the decisions of judges sitting in Nottingham, which is a significant step towards achieving our aim of having an open and transparent justice system.

"Justice must be seen to be done and today marks another important step towards opening up the court process to bring justice closer to the public.

"However, we will always balance the need to make the justice system more accessible with the needs of victims and witnesses. That is why we will ensure that throughout the court process, they will not be filmed."

PA