A MOTHER has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her son who died after he was pulled from a burning car, the Chronicle can reveal.

Teresa Sheldon admitted killing five-year-old Tommy Sheldon at Winchester Crown Court this afternoon.

Despite his brave fight for life with his father holding a bedside vigil, the youngster died two weeks after suffering serious burns in the blaze in Merdon Castle Lane, in Hursley, on August 11 last year.

The remote lane was the scene of a major incident for the emergency services with police and fire crews all called just after 8pm, including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

It was two passers-by who were first on the scene to help rescue Tommy.

They described coming across the fireball on their way to a fishing trip and seeing a boy inside the burning Ford Fiesta car.

As reported by the Chronicle at the time, Alan Beusmans and his son William bravely battled against the intensity of the flames and managed to open one of the doors of the car to reach Tommy, who was inside.

A shaken Mr Beusmans, a 64-year-old grandfather of three, said at the time: “We thought we’d run to assist the lady, who had flames coming up around her legs.

“I went over to the car and managed to get the door open – the boy was pressed up against the window.

“I burnt my hand opening it and the boy fell out of the car, and I managed to get him over to the other side.

“They were very distressed and I was shocked at what I saw but I managed to get myself together.”

The youngster was treated at the scene before being taken to Southampton General Hospital and on to a specialist burns unit in Bristol.

His mother was also taken to hospital for treatment for injuries she sustained.

Despite the best efforts of medics Tommy died from his injuries on August 25.

An appeal in his memory was subsequently set up by Hursley residents who were left shocked by what had happened.

Lucy Richmond, landlady of the Kings Head pub, told the Chronicle at the time: “All the locals are shocked and can’t believe this could happen or how it’s happened.”

Frankie Hale, 19, and Daniel Cheater, 27, from Hursley High Class Butchers, were stunned by the news.

Frankie, a friend of Will Beusmans, said their actions were brave and heroic.

He said: “It was definitely a brave thing to do and he was pretty upset when I spoke to him.”

Another witness, who asked not to be named described hearing explosions before arriving at the scene soon after.

He said: “You don’t expect to see something like this on a country lane.

“I am a part-time gamekeeper and was thinking about having an early night. I was driving my car and then saw what was happening round the corner.

“I heard two explosions which may have been the tyres bursting.

“I stopped the cars coming up and directed them away.

“It’s something you are not used to seeing. It’s a quiet country lane.”

Another witness described Mr Beusmans, who has been head gardener at the picturesque Morden House for 40 years, as a “legend” for his act of bravery.

However Mr Beusmans played down his role in running to the aid of young Tommy.

He added: “I will always have the pictures of this in my head. They say it takes a long time to get over something like this.

“Anyone would do this, I had to do it. You couldn’t just leave them there.

“I have seen a few accidents in my time here but this is the worst thing to have happened by far.”

All monies collected from the appeal by local residents were being donated to the Bristol Children’s Hospital where the five-year-old was treated.

Following Tommy’s death detectives from Hampshire police’s major crime team launched a murder inquiry to establish what caused the fire and subsequent death of the boy.

As previously reported an inquest was opened in September by Central Hampshire Coroner Grahame Short, which was adjourned while the murder investigation, codenamed Operation Ursa, was under way.

That probe has resulted in Teresa Sheldon, 38, being charged with the youngster’s murder along with unlawfully killing him.

She first appeared before Basingstoke magistrates before the case was adjourned to Winchester Crown Court.

Sheldon, who gave her address as being in Dartford, Kent, also faces a charge of the attempted murder of another youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Share article The 38-year-old was remanded into custody during the hearing at Winchester Crown Court before Judge Keith Cutler.

She has also been given a hospital order.