A non-league footballer who beat a two-year-old child so badly doctors compared her injuries to those of a high-speed crash victim has been found guilty of child cruelty.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 32, left the girl with life-changing brain injuries and in need of round-the-clock care following the attack in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex in January 2020.
At trial, where Hughes-Mason was convicted of grievous bodily harm and child cruelty, prosecutors said the injuries were similar to those inflicted by "a fall from... several storeys".
During a 15-year career, Hughes-Mason started off at Millwall and later played for the social media team Hashtag United, most recently serving as manager of Tower Hamlets FC.
Hughes-Mason called paramedics while looking after his ex-partner's daughter on 31 January 2020.
He claimed at first that he had been downstairs when he heard a bang from her bedroom and believed she had fallen on a doll house, leaving her conscious but unresponsive.
Paramedics took her to hospital and she was put into an induced coma, and then taken on to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
She remained in a coma for 14 days and suffered life-changing brain injuries which means she needs 24-hour care.
Hughes-Mason was arrested on 14 February 2020.
During the investigation, officers found on Hughes-Mason's phone messages sent to friends in which he described how angry caring for the girl made him, including telling one person "She’s actually getting on my nerves", and "I’m gonna hit her".
In closing speeches, the prosecution barrister said: “The experts are all unanimously of the view that the child’s devastating head and brain injuries could not have been caused accidentally while she was alone in her room.
“Hughes-Mason was keen from the outset to portray himself to the police as the doting stepfather who treated the children as his own, saying how much he loved them.
“Yet in his text messages written at the time, he constantly referred to them as ‘your children,’ or ‘your child’ to the child’s mother. He regularly belittled them, talked about them as if they were stupid and put them down.
“In respect of the head and brain injury that the child suffered… the experts all agree that the pattern of injuries found is consistent with the child having been vigorously shaken… with her head likely being hit against a hard surface.
“The only explanation for the pattern of injuries suffered by the child was that they were inflicted by this defendant and inflicted deliberately.”
'Consequences for the rest of her life'
Following Hughes-Mason's conviction, the victim's family said: “We finally have a verdict and that man is now held accountable for what he did to our little girl.
“We have had to go through what no family should ever have to experience, and our girl is going to bear the consequences of what he has done to her for the rest of her life”.
Det Sgt Ellie Nudd of Essex Police's child abuse investigation team, said: “This conviction is important. Hughes-Mason denied responsibility for all of the child’s injuries, pointing the finger at others or blaming them on accidents.
"This little girl will never recover from the injuries she sustained from this violent attack.
“The doctor’s were clear about the extent of the injuries – they were equivalent to a high-speed crash, and would have to be the result of a violent assault."
He will be sentenced on 10 September at Basildon Crown Court.
The Attack
Hughes-Mason was responsible for caring for his ex-partner's two-year-old daughter on 31 January 2020. In the early hours of the morning, he called emergency services, claiming to have found the girl unresponsive after she had allegedly fallen on a doll's house.
Paramedics rushed the child to hospital and discovered that her injuries were much more severe than Hughes-Mason had initially let on. The girl had sustained a total of 17 injuries, including those to her legs, back, face and chest.
Doctors concluded that the injuries were consistent with a violent assault, and the child was placed in an induced coma. She was subsequently transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for further treatment and remained in a coma for 14 days.
The medical experts stated that the child's injuries were comparable to those sustained in a high-speed car crash or a significant fall from a height, and that they could not have been caused by a simple fall.
Messages Sent
The investigation uncovered text messages sent by Hughes-Mason, where he expressed frustration and anger towards the child. In these messages, he stated, "She’s actually getting on my nerves", and "I’m gonna hit her".
The prosecution alleged that these messages indicated Hughes-Mason's violent intent towards the child and supported their claims that the injuries sustained were not accidental.
The Verdict
The trial concluded on August 21, after five hours of deliberation.
Impact and Reaction
The victim's family issued a statement following the conviction, stating: “We finally have a verdict and that man is now held accountable for what he did to our little girl.
“We have had to go through what no family should ever have to experience, and our girl is going to bear the consequences of what he has done to her for the rest of her life”.
Essex Police Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd highlighted the importance of the conviction, stating: "Hughes-Mason refused to admit what he had done and subject the family of this little girl to weeks of details of the injuries he allowed or inflicted.
“Her family have attended court and have shown nothing but dignity and strength. I cannot commend their conduct throughout this trial highly enough while they live the impact of his actions.
“This conviction is important. Hughes-Mason denied responsibility for all of the child’s injuries, pointing the finger at others or blaming them on accidents. This little girl will never recover from the injuries she sustained from this violent attack.
“The doctor’s were clear about the extent of the injuries – they were equivalent to a high-speed crash, and would have to be the result of a violent assault.
“We now await his sentencing.”
Hughes-Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on 10 September at Basildon Crown Court.
