A mum has been sentenced to three years for letting her partner murder her two-year-old daughter - with the killer sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years.
Lola James' stepfather Kyle Bevan inflicted “catastrophic” brain injuries on the girl while her mother slept. The youngster's injuries were said to be comparable with those found in car crash victims.
More than 100 scratches and bruises were recorded on Lola’s body, and she also had extensive damage to both her eyes. She died in hospital after four days in intensive care, reports the Mirror.
Sinead James, 30, was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter’s death while Bevan, 31, was convicted of murder by a jury at Swansea Crown Court earlier this month.
He had denied harming Lola, claiming the little girl's injuries were caused when the family dog pushed her down the stairs.
In a statement read to the court Lola’s father Daniel Thomas said: "Lola didn’t just die, wasn’t just taken from me in the worst way ever possible, she was brutally attacked - her tiny body was savaged in the evilest way, she didn’t stand a chance."
Lola's grandmother, Nicola James, speaking during the hearing, told Bevan: "Kyle, you took the young innocent life of my granddaughter. At the same time you have taken so much more than you can imagine. You killed my Lola and you have broken her family. I hope the time you have now you can understand what you have done."
Sentencing today, Mr Justice Griffiths said he was sure that by the time of the murder, Sinead James knew that Lola was not safe around Bevan. He sentenced her to six years imprisonment but said she would only serve three behind bars under current rules.
He said the assault carried out by Bevan was "sustained, deliberate, and very violent", and involved the use of weapons. He said he was satisfied the attack was an "exercise of power" over "the only person he could feel superior to" - a helpless child.
He said Bevan had shown no remorse for what he had done but at every stage had only shown concern for himself. The judge added he was sure the fatal assault was the culmination of months of physical child abuse at the hands of Bevan.
Bevan showed no emotion as he was jailed. James was tearful throughout the hearing, particularly at hearing the victim impact statement from her mother, and cried when she was jailed.
Mr Justice Griffiths said: "Lola was a very young child, two years and 10 months old. She was particularly vulnerable, not being strong enough to resist or old enough to tell anyone what was happening.
"Kyle Bevan was in a position of trust. Having assumed the role, as he described himself to the ambulance crew, of Lola's stepfather.
"He started to hurt Lola at midnight, and he carried on until she was unconscious at 6.30am. He did not stop when Sinead James nearly caught him in the act when she heard Lola's scream at midnight.
"This was a sustained, deliberate and very violent attack. The attack was completely unprovoked. There is no suggestion that Lola was playing up in any way before she was killed.
"For some of the injuries, Kyle Bevan used weapons. The attack would have caused both mental and physical pain and suffering before the onset of coma. It was the culmination of several months of physical child abuse.
"I am sure that Kyle Bevan did this as an exercise of power and assertion of superiority over the only person who he could feel superior to, a helpless child."
Bevan had moved into the house in February 2020, just days after meeting James. Lola then suffered a number of injuries while in his sole care – including a damaged nose, black eyes and a cut lip.
Bevan, who was a heavy user of the drug Spice, then launched a “murderous” attack on Lola after staying up late with her, taking pictures of her on Snapchat.
The beast had taken photographs of marks on Lola’s back and extensive swelling and bruising to her head, eyes and lips. A disturbing video Bevan sent to his mother showed him picking up Lola’s limp body, attempting to stand her on her feet before letting her fall to the floor – telling the camera: “She’s gone.”
Bevan did not ask his mother to phone for an ambulance for Lola until almost 7.30am, having only woken James up at about 7.20am.
More than 100 scratches and bruises were recorded on Lola’s body, and she also had extensive damage to both her eyes, with the injuries to her brain comparable with those found in car crash victims.
The mother was woken by Bevan saying that Lola had fallen down the stairs – showing her a piece of the little girl’s tongue on his finger.
James dialled 999 in tears after finding her daughter unresponsive on the sofa, telling operators that Lola’s face appeared “swollen” and she was “really scared”.
In hospital, Bevan became aggressive with hospital doctors who questioned him over Lola’s injuries while she was in a life-threatening condition.
Text messages from Bevan to James showed him repeatedly telling her that their American bulldog Jessie was responsible for the incident, and questioning her about what she was going to tell the police.
Jurors heard how Bevan regularly used Xanax, Valium and cannabis, and that the couple both took amphetamines when the children were at James’ mother’s house. Bevan had previously smashed the house up while taking drugs and drunk.
In a victim impact statement read out to the court by prosecution barrister Carina Hughes, Lola’s father Daniel Thomas said his daughter was "as bright as the golden sun, she was beautiful, charming and cheeky - her laugh would fill the room with pure joy".
His statement added: "Lola didn’t just die, wasn’t just taken from me in the worst way ever possible, she was brutally attacked - her tiny body was savaged in the evilest way, she didn’t stand a chance. Lola’s little life was filled with filth and chaos at the hands of her mother who couldn’t even provide her with basic safety in her own home."
NSPCC Cymru said a child practice review, which will be carried out into Lola’s death, should establish whether more could have been done by agencies to prevent her death.
A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed a child practice review would take place into the death of Lola.
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