A teenager has been jailed for robbing an autistic boy months after his four siblings were murdered in a devastating fire.
Kyle Pearson, now 18, committed the crime months after he escaped the burning home in Walkden, Salford, where his siblings Demi, 15, Lacie, seven, Lia, three and Brandon, eight were all killed.
His mother Michelle Pearson died in August – 20 months after she escaped the blaze – from injuries sustained in the fire, Manchester Evening News reported.
In a trial into his crimes Manchester Crown Court heard how Pearson had been feuding with Zak Bolland and David Worrall, then 23 and 25, who were later sentenced to life with a minimum of 40 years and 37 years respectively for the murders.
They were also found guilty of attempting to murder Pearson in the petrol bombing.
Pearson appeared at the court today to be sentenced for his role in three incidents following the fire.
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In August last year he had joined Callum Wood, 21, in punching a romantic dispute.
Pearson and the victim had both been speaking to a woman before he sent the man a warning not to "be chatting" with her.
The victim received another message saying: "I will smash your head in you f****** idiot."
Later that day the man was walking down an alley when eight men including Pearson and Wood approached him.
An argument broke out and Pearson and Wood both punched the victim two or three times.
He suffered a broken nose and went to hospital.
Later that same day, he was returning home from hospital when he was set upon by a gang including Pearson, armed with wooden planks, a wooden bat and a metal pole.
He was hit to the back of the head and attacked on the floor.
His wrist was stood on, and his phone was taken.
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The victim was hospitalised again, suffering a fractured eye socket and bruising.
The attack left the man requiring medication for anxiety and stress.
Pearson, of Captain Fold Road, Little Hulton, admitted offences of robbery; possession of an offensive weapon, namely a piece of wood; and two counts of causing actual bodily harm.
Wood, of Coniston Avenue, Little Hulton, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.
Several months later in November 2017, Pearson, then 17, joined with another 17-year-old in following a 14-year-old with autism who was riding a tram.
They stopped the boy and told him to change the PIN on his iPhone X, worth about £1,200, before demanding he hand it over.
Pearson produced a knife and said the 14-year-old should turn off the Find My iPhone app so it could not be detected.
They threatened to stab him if he didn't comply.
In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Matthew Howarth, the victim said: "I have done nothing wrong. Nobody has the right to rob my phone off me."
The 17-year-old boy who was with Pearson was previously sentenced in the youth court.
Pearson admitted offences of robbery and having a bladed article.
Defending Pearson, Gwen Henshaw said: "It is rare that a court comes across a more tragic background than Mr Pearson has endured."
During mitigation, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said: "We all fully understand the very tragic events that he has been a part of.
"But his own behaviour was clearly spiralling out of control."
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The court heard that Pearson had been "rejected to some extent" by members of his family following his behaviour.
This had changed since he had been in custody however, with loved ones visiting him while he was on remand in Forest Bank prison.
Me Henshaw appealed for Pearson to be handed a suspended sentence, saying it was a 'very unique case' and that the defendant has 'significant mitigation'.
Richard Orme, for Wood, said the defendant had acted out of a 'misguided sense of loyalty' to his friend Pearson.
Sentencing, Judge Goddard spared Wood jail, handing him a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months, to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours unpaid work.
But the judge said she couldn't spare Pearson jail as his offending was too serious.
He will serve half of his four year sentence, before being released on licence.
Referencing a probation report written about his background, Judge Goddard said: "Nobody reading that report and knowing the facts of the case could fail to be moved by the tragedy that has struck your life, and the members of your family you lost in that terrible fire."
The judge added: "What is remarkable is since you have been remanded in custody, it seems you have started to mature, and started to reflect."
A restraining order was also imposed, preventing Pearson or Wood from contacting the victim in the August offence for five years.
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