A Mother’s Negligence Leads to Unthinkable Tragedy: The Sutton House Fire
The tragic deaths of four young boys in a house fire in Sutton, South London, shook the community and left a family devastated. Deveca Rose, the 30-year-old mother of two sets of twins, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter after leaving her sons, three-year-old Leyton and Logan Hoath, and four-year-old Kyson and Bryson Hoath, home alone while she went to the supermarket. The fire, sparked by a cigarette or tea light, rapidly engulfed the terraced house on December 16, 2021, trapping the children inside. Neighbors heard their desperate cries for help and attempted to break down the door, but the inferno was too intense. Firefighters eventually recovered the boys’ bodies from under beds in the smoke-filled home.
The house itself was found in a deplorable state, littered with rubbish and human excrement. Buckets and pots served as toilets due to the unusable state of the bathroom facilities. This grim discovery highlighted the neglect the children endured, further compounding the tragedy. Rose, who had separated from the boys’ father and struggled with mental health issues, claimed to have left the children with a friend named Jade. However, police investigations revealed that this individual either did not exist or was not present at the house that day. This fabrication underscored Rose’s attempt to deflect responsibility for her fatal decision to leave her young sons unattended.
The court proceedings revealed a heartbreaking picture of the boys’ lives and the impact of their deaths on their family. Their father, Dalton Hoath, expressed his profound grief, describing the loss of his "young, boisterous lads" as the worst day of his life. The boys’ great-grandmother, Sally Johnson, wept openly in court, haunted by the thought of their final moments, screaming for help. The family expressed their profound pain and anger, lamenting the senseless act of negligence that stole the boys’ lives. They emphasized that the children were left alone, contrary to earlier speculation about a babysitter or Christmas tree lights causing the fire.
The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, described the case as "deeply tragic" and emphasized the children’s vulnerability, stating they were too young to know how to react in such a situation. The fact that Rose had already been to Sainsbury’s earlier in the day and her return trip was not for essential items further emphasized the unnecessary risk she took. The prosecution also highlighted the squalid living conditions in the house, which added to the neglect the children experienced. It was revealed they had not attended school for three weeks prior to the fire.
The details of the house’s condition further illustrated the extent of the neglect. Rubbish piled up throughout the house, rendering the bathroom unusable. Buckets replaced toilets, creating an unsanitary environment for the young boys. Rose’s paternal great-grandmother, Sally Johnson, revealed she had previously expressed concerns about Rose leaving the children unattended, recalling instances when Kyson answered the phone and confirmed his mother’s absence. The boys’ step-grandmother, Kerrie Hoath, described them as "polite, carefree and very much loved" but mentioned Rose’s reluctance to allow her into the house.
Rose’s actions, leaving her vulnerable young children alone in an unsafe environment, led to the devastating loss of four innocent lives. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of her negligence and serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities of parenthood. This case underscored the tragic consequences of a parent’s failure to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children. The family’s grief and the community’s shock reverberate as a solemn reminder of this preventable tragedy.
