Mairead Philpott becomes a witch in jail. Mairead Philpott, who is serving a 1. She is pictured alongside ex husband Mick Philpott. A mother who helped start a fire that killed her six children has taken up practicing witchcraft in prison. Mairead Philpott, who is serving a 1. The 3. 5 year old was joined by fellow prisoners as they chanted and sang while celebrating the June 2. Solstice.  She was leading eight or nine girls and having the time of her life, former lag Natalie Stewart told The Sun. She is a child killer, for Gods sake, and now shes a practicing paganIt made me feel sick to see her leading a dance in the role of a witch. The spectacle unfolded in a faith room at HMP Bronzefield, Surrey, where Philpott has resided since being jailed in April 2. Mairead and Mick Philpott at the tearful press conference they staged appealing for help to find the childrens killers despite knowing they had set the fire. He was convicted of causing the deaths of six children by arson and sentenced to life imprisonment for their manslaughter, with a minimum of 1. Mairead was sentenced to 1. Five of the children Jade, 1. John, 9, Jack, 7, Jesse, 6 and Jayden Philpott, 5, who had been asleep upstairs died at the scene. Their half brother, Duwayne Philpott, 1. Philpot was found guilty alongside husband Mick for torching their Derby council home. They said they were hoping to apply for a bigger house after rescuing their children, aged five to 1. Five of the children Jade, 1. John, 9, Jack, 7, Jesse, 6 and Jayden Philpott, 5, who had been asleep upstairs died at the scene. Their half brother, Duwayne Philpott, 1. All of the deaths were caused by excessive smoke inhalation The couple held an emotional news conference five days after the blaze in which they purported to describe the events concerning the fire. Brothers And Sisters Season 2 Episode 5. Mairead would later divorce Mick, who was jailed for life, while she and her friend Paul Mosley were sentenced to 1. COUPLES TWISTED PLOT TO LAND A BIGGER COUNCIL HOUSE BY BURNING DOWN THEIR HOME  The pair were hoping to apply for a bigger house after rescuing their children, aged five to 1. Mairead and Mick Philpott planned to start the fire as part of a scheme to get a bigger council house by burning down the family home. They plotted to blame the fire on Philpotts former lover Lisa Willis who had walked out on him taking five of his children with her. The father was supposed to rescue the sleeping children through an upstairs window but the plan went disastrously wrong after too much petrol was used. In his letters the prisoner disputes this and claims that the flames got out of control because antique furniture in the home acted as kindling. He writes I really tried son, but I just could not get to them, if only I had not of put fancy anteak sic wood up everywhere, so yes I do blame myself. I might not have had anything to do with the fire but the wood and varnish did not help. A court sketch of Mairead Philpott during her trial Philpot was found guilty alongside husband Mick for torching their Derby council home. Mairead Philpotts former fellow prisoner Ms Stewart, from Portsmouth, was jailed for shoplifting. She said Philpott was a marked woman who had been beaten up in prison, and is held on a wing alongside other child killers for her own safety. She alleged Philpott had convinced prison guards that the fire was entirely her husbands idea and she is allowed to sell sweets to other prisoners. The Ministry of Justice said We do not like to comment on individual prisoners.