Kiernan Hughes-Mason, a 32-year-old non-league footballer, has been found guilty of child cruelty and grievous bodily harm after violently assaulting a two-year-old girl in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. The child's injuries were so severe that doctors likened them to those seen in high-speed crash victims or from a fall from several storeys. The attack, which occurred in January 2020, left the young girl with life-altering brain damage, requiring constant care.
During his 15-year football career, Hughes-Mason played for Millwall and the social media-driven team Hashtag United. At the time of the incident, he was serving as the manager of Tower Hamlets FC.
The assault took place while Hughes-Mason was looking after his ex-partner's daughter. He initially claimed that he had been downstairs when he heard a noise from her bedroom and believed she had fallen on a dollhouse. However, the severity of the girl's injuries led to his conviction, as the court rejected his explanation and found him guilty of the heinous act.
Paramedics rushed the two-year-old girl to the hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma before being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Doctors discovered 17 separate injuries on her legs, back, face, and chest, which were believed to have been inflicted over a three-month period from October 2019 to January 2020. The young girl remained in a coma for 14 days, ultimately suffering life-changing brain injuries that now require her to have 24-hour care.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason was arrested on February 14, 2020. During the investigation, police uncovered alarming messages on his phone, where he vented his frustration about caring for the child. In these messages, he expressed his anger, stating that the child was "getting on my nerves" and ominously admitting, "I’m gonna hit her." These disturbing revelations contributed to his conviction, highlighting the premeditated nature of the violence inflicted on the innocent child.
In the closing statements of the trial, the prosecution emphasized the severity and intentional nature of the injuries inflicted on the two-year-old victim by Kiernan Hughes-Mason. The prosecution barrister stated, "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 initially tried to present himself to the police as a caring stepfather who loved the children as his own. However, his text messages to the child’s mother revealed a different story. He frequently referred to the children as "your children" or "your child," belittling them and expressing frustration. In these messages, he spoke of the children in demeaning terms, indicating his disdain and lack of affection.
The prosecution pointed out that the child’s head and brain injuries were consistent with being vigorously shaken, likely with her head striking a hard surface. The experts unanimously agreed that the injuries could only have been inflicted deliberately and by Hughes-Mason.
Following his conviction, the victim’s family expressed relief that Hughes-Mason was finally held accountable. They stated, "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."
Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd from Essex Police’s child abuse investigation team highlighted the importance of the conviction, noting that Hughes-Mason consistently denied responsibility, attempting to blame others or dismiss the injuries as accidents. She added, "This little girl will never recover from the injuries she sustained from this violent attack. The doctors 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."
Kiernan Hughes-Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10 at Basildon Crown Court.