Devastated mum of two boys killed by vengeful dad in loft arson attack could be left homeless

The devastated mum of two boys killed in a house blaze started by their deranged dad risks being left homeless.

Claire Sykes' former husband Darren Sykes killed Paul, nine, and Jack, 12, last year out of pure spite because the couple had broken up.

Now 42-year-old Claire could be left with nowhere to live as the destroyed house she once shared with her ex wasn't covered by an insurance policy.

The sale of the property is vital for Claire to her being able to have a home once again.

The community has now rallied behind the bereaved mum to help raise funds so she can sell the house and move on with her life.
More than £6,000 has so far been raised for Claire to renovate the fire-ravaged semi-detached house in Penistone, South Yorkshire, on Go Fund Me page 'Care for Claire'.

Father David Hopkin, Rector of Penistone and Thurlstone Team Ministry, who helped set up the page, told the Mirror Online, "We are trying to raise enough to renovate the house and then sell it so Claire can move on and hopefully get a small flat of her own."

Claire is currently living with her mum after moving out of the marital home following the breakdown of her marriage.

She believes her ex-husband Sykes lured the boys to his attic with the promise of a new train set before torching the house using an accelerant.

Sykes also died in the inferno after locking himself in the loft with his two terrified boys.

Claire was living at her mum's house with the boys at the time of the suicide arson attack.
Sykes picked the boys up, conning them into thinking they were set for a night of fun when in fact he was lining them up for a horrific and painful death.

Claire said he had been sending the ­youngsters regular texts at school on the day they died, telling them about the new toys.

She said, “He was sending them pictures of the train set and telling them, ‘You've got these lovely trains.’ They seemed quite excited that he was showing an interest.

“All kids are bribable ­especially if someone is being nice and loving.”

Claire told how Jack replied, “I can’t wait for tonight.”

Paul said to his gran later: “It’s going to be nice, we’ve got these new trains.”

Evil Sykes embarked on his murderous mission at 6.10 p.m. on that fateful day, picking the boys up from their gran’s house.

The community is supporting Claire in moving on from the unspeakable tragedy.

Father Hopkin said, "As well as dealing with her bereavement it has become clear that Claire, on top of everything else, has lost her home.

"Many people have asked me what they can do to help Claire and express their support practically. I am launching this campaign to raise funds to help Claire restore her former family home so that it can be sold."
The family believe the carpet fitter ­deliberately parked his van three streets away from the former marital home to make ­neighbours think he was out.
Claire added, "Six minutes one night in October, a night I will never forget, my former home and ultimately my world was completely destroyed, with the taking of my boys Jack and Paul.

"I would like to buy a small home and stay in the village where Paul and Jack lived – but in order to do this the family home will have to be renovated. To undertake this renovation alone is too big a mountain for me to climb.

"Any help, however small, would make a difference."

Claire plans to raise around £50,000 to help her sell the house and has so far received 270 donations in just one month.

Writing on the Go Fund Me page, the mum and her supporters said, "Claire needs our continuing support more than ever, as she finds the restoration of the property. Her former home is not covered by an insurance policy.

"Whilst understandably she does not want to return to the property, the restoration and sale is vital to her being able to have a home once again. We are also acutely aware that the property in its current state stands as a terrible reminder to the local neighbourhood of the loss of two of its sons."

Reliving the night back in October, Claire recalls last seeing her sons that morning as they left for school.

She arrived back at her mum Pam’s house and police knocked at the door around 6.40p.m.
She said, “I thought it was the boys coming home early. But it was the police saying, ‘Come now, there’s been a fire.’”

Sykes and Paul died that day in hospital. Jack managed to flee the attic but was met by a wall of flames on the landing, leaving him with 56% burns. He died on Monday, five days later.

Claire was taken to Sheffield ­Children’s Hospital where she got the chance to say goodbye to Paul before he slipped away.

She said, "I held him in my arms. I told him how much I loved him and he looked at me and then I saw the light go out of his eyes. At least I got to say that to him.”

Claire was later taken with Jack to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he was put on a life support machine.

She said, "They did so much to try to keep Jack alive. They saved him that night but he had 56% burns and his little body couldn’t cope.