September 10th 2024.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason, a 32-year-old man, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for committing child cruelty. This former Millwall player caused life-changing brain damage to a two-year-old girl while caring for her in January 2020. The severity of the attack was compared to that of a high-speed road traffic accident or a fall from a several-story building.
During his sentencing at Basildon Crown Court, the girl's mother broke down as she described the devastating effects of the attack. She shared that her daughter can no longer walk, crawl, or move her lower body, and now requires constant care. The mother tearfully expressed that her daughter's life will never be the same and that she has lost the ability to dance around the living room or use her arms. She is now fed through a tube and also suffers from epilepsy. The mother stated, "He took her future away from her and the life she will never have."
Hughes-Mason, who resides in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, was found guilty of child cruelty and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He had previously played for Millwall, Welling, and Hashtag United, as well as various lower-league clubs and a team in New Zealand. He was even appointed as the manager for Enfield Borough FC before being sacked following his arrest.
The court heard that prior to the attack, Hughes-Mason had messaged his friends, expressing frustration with the child and stating that he was going to hit her. Doctors later identified 17 injuries on the girl's legs, back, face, and chest that could have occurred between October 2019 and January 31, 2020 – the day of the incident. After the attack, Hughes-Mason called paramedics and tried to cover up his actions by claiming the child's injuries were from falling onto a doll's house and that she was conscious but unresponsive. However, paramedics discovered the truth and rushed her to the hospital, where she was put into an induced coma for 14 days.
Judge Ian Graham, who delivered the verdict, stated, "This little girl's life has been destroyed." He explained that the injuries she suffered were a result of vigorous shaking and forcefully hitting her head on a surface. As a result, she is now fully dependent on others for her everyday needs and cannot walk, crawl, or move her lower body. The judge also noted that the victim was left with permanent brain damage and now suffers from epilepsy.
Following Hughes-Mason's sentencing, the NSPCC children's charity condemned his "brutal and cowardly attack on a defenseless toddler." A spokesperson for the organization added, "Tragically, the two-year-old girl subjected to this violent assault will never recover from her injuries – a young life devastated before it had a chance to truly begin." They also called for a thorough review of the case to determine if anything could have been done to prevent this tragedy and to provide better protection for children in the future.
Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd of Essex Police also spoke out, calling Hughes-Mason a coward for lying to 999 call handlers, paramedics, police officers, and hospital staff in an attempt to cover up his attack. She praised the victim's family for their incredible strength and thanked the ambulance service and the Crown Prosecution Service for their involvement in bringing justice to the little girl. DS Nudd stated, "Our county is a safer place now that Hughes-Mason is behind bars."
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