August 23, 2024
Former footballer convicted of violently assaulting a two-year-old girl leaving permanent brain damage.
Gillian Jones KC and Jane Oldfield have prosecuted former footballer Kiernan Hughes-Mason who was found guilty by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty after a 2 year old girl suffered serious injuries.
Mr. Hughes-Mason was looking after the girl at an address in Westcliff-on-Sea in January 2020.
In the weeks leading up to the incident, he sent messages to friends stating how angry caring for the girl made him, saying “she’s actually getting on my nerves” and “I’m gonna hit her”. Between October 2019 and January 2020, the girl also suffered several unexplained injuries to her face, legs and hand and the defendant was observed by family members to handle her inappropriately.
Mr Hughes-Mason called paramedics to the address on 31 January 2020 after claiming to have heard a loud bang from the girl’s bedroom stating that she had fallen on a doll’s house which left her unconscious.
At Southend General Hospital doctors identified significant brain injury, as well as various injuries on her legs, back, face and chest.
She remained in a coma for two weeks and suffered life-changing brain injuries which mean she now needs 24-hour care.
The 32-year-old defendant had been managing Enfield Borough Football Club but was dismissed of all duties following his conviction on 21st August.
Mr Hughes-Mason is set to be sentenced on 10 September at Basildon Crown Court.
Gillian Jones KC has a high-profile practice in cases of Murder & Manslaughter, Serious & Organised Crime, serious Sexual Offences and Business Crime & Fraud. Read more: [Gillian Jones KC Profile]
Jane Oldfield specialises in prosecuting allegations involving parents or other caregivers accused of causing or allowing serious injury to children. She is also instructed in the most serious offences of s18 grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and violent crime: [Jane Oldfield Profile]
Both were instructed by Lynn Harvey and Sara Walker of CPS East of England.
Read news stories here:
[BBC News]
[ITV News]
[Independent]
[Daily Mail]
[Metro]
