Eastbourne house fire murders: Tributes to Gina Ingles and son Milo

Gina Ingles, 34, and her son Milo Ingles-Bailey, aged four, were murdered at their home in Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018.

Drug dealing thugs Jacob Barnard, 32, and Andrew Milne, 42, were jailed for life after they poured petrol through the letterbox of the home in order to enforce a drugs debt owed by Gina’s partner Toby Jarrett, now 29, who escaped with serious burns.

Speaking at the sentencing hearing, Gina’s mother Jane Ingles described how her last memory of her daughter and grandson was seeing them in the sunshine, with Milo playing with his favourite toys.

She said: “On July 10, our world changed forever. I got a Facebook message asking if I had heard about Gina and Milo. I must have gone into shock.

Gina Ingles and her son Milo were killed in the devastating house fire

“I went past the burnt-out house and tried to find a police officer to help me. I was told that Gina and Milo were not accounted for.

“Then I was subsequently given the heartbreaking news that they had not survived the fire.

Read more on this story: Drug dealer and his enforcer jailed for life over house fire murders

“Three years on we are living with the pain, sorrow and emptiness. This trial has hit us hard. Our family has been totally devastated, losing them in such an awful and sudden way.”

Ms Ingles said it has ripped her family apart, but said they have all had to carry on as best they can with the happy memories of Gina and Milo.

She described the “intense heartache and loss” which has been “soul-destroying” and said they have had nightmares imagining the “fear and terror” of her daughter and grandson’s final moments. Gina was found crouching over Milo’s body near the window of the property. They had died from smoke inhalation.

The scene of the house fire in Croxden Way, Eastbourne

Ms Ingles said the family has been robbed of their daughter and beautiful grandson.

At the time neighbours described how an arson attack on the family home rapidly turned to horror.

Jacob Barnard and Andrew Milne targeted the home where Toby Jarrett lived in Eastbourne over a £400 drugs debt

But Mr Jarrett’s partner Gina, 34, and her four-year-old son Milo lost their lives in the blaze at Croxden Way in July 2018.

One neighbour said: “We were woken up at about 12.50am. I looked out of the window and saw flames coming out of the front door.

“It was like an inferno of flames coming out of the front door and window.

“Then the bathroom window exploded and that set the tree in front of the house on fire.

“Before you knew it, the roof was on fire.

“Then you could see the flames coming out of the rear of the house and the smoke and everything. It was horrendous. It was horrible.”

Barnard and Milne are now starting life sentences for the murders.

Jacob Barnard has been jailed for life

Barnard will serve a minimum of 36 years before he can be considered for parole.

Andrew Milne has been jailed for life

Milne will serve a minimum of 34 years before he can be considered for parole.