Mick Philpott, the convicted child killer responsible for a 2012 fire that claimed the lives of six of his 17 children in Derby, has been placed on a strict segregation regime at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The 69-year-old inmate is now kept isolated from other prisoners under a rare Rule 45 order, which designates all other inmates as potential threats to his safety.

Under this regime, Philpott is allowed out of his cell only when alone and is prevented from interacting with other prisoners. Officials have indicated that the decision to impose this segregation stems from credible intelligence suggesting a significant risk to his life within the prison population. A source familiar with the situation confirmed that his safety concerns are well-founded and that no other inmate is considered safe enough for him to mix with.

HMP Wakefield, known for housing high-profile offenders, was the site of a fatal attack in October 2025, when Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets frontman convicted of multiple sex offenses, was killed by a fellow inmate. Philpott himself has previously been assaulted during his incarceration.

Philpott was sentenced in 2013 to 15 years in prison for manslaughter following the fire he deliberately set in May 2012, which resulted in the deaths of six children, including his own. He is due to become eligible for parole in May 2027. The current segregation measures are expected to continue as long as the threat to his safety remains.