Lessons need to be learnt after 'horrific' death of Alfie Steele
The NSPCC said it's vital that a thorough review into the circumstances around Alfie’s death finds whether more could have been done by professionals to protect him.
Last updated 14th Jun 2023
An independent review into safeguarding is underway after the “horrific” death of a nine-year-old schoolboy.
Neighbours had called 999 and told the police they were concerned for the welfare of Alfie Steele in the months before his death in Droitwich.
His mother Carla Scott, 35, has been found guilty of manslaughter, and her partner Dirk Howell, 41, of murder, after Alfie died in the bath.
He was found cold with 50 injuries and neighbours reported how they had seen Alfie standing in the garden “like a statue”.
It was part of a cruel and "sinister" regime of correction by Scott and Howell where Alfie was repeatedly assaulted, beaten and put in a cold bath, prosecutors said.
Despite a social services plan barring Howell from staying overnight at her home to protect Alfie, Scott frequently flouted this rule and allowed Howell to stay over regularly, the CPS said.
Neighbours also witnessed Howell aggressively shouting and swearing at Alfie in the street while Scott stood by and let it happen.
A multi-agency review is now under way into the safeguarding of Alfie, and the NSPCC said it's vital that a thorough review into the circumstances around his death finds whether more could have been done by professionals to protect him.
"This is so important because such findings can help prevent future tragedies," a spokesperson said.
Stephen Eccleston, independent chair of Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership, said: "Members of the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership are shocked and saddened by the death of Alfie.
"On behalf of the partnership I would like to take this opportunity to pass on our condolences to Alfie's family.
"Following his death, we began a process of conducting a local Child Safeguarding Practice Review.
"With the completion of the trial, we will now be asking the independent reviewer to complete the review.
"The report is due to be published later this year and we will consider further comment at that time."
Nigel Huddleston, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, said lessons must be learnt by the authorities after the “horrific” events.
“The death of someone so young is heart-breaking and the details of the case are absolutely horrendous,” he said.
“It is distressing for any normal parent or human being to hear the details of Alfie's murder and learn about the horrific treatment Alfie received in the last few months of his life.
“The circumstances of Alfie's death also raise many questions.
“An independent safeguarding review is under way. We must endeavour to learn lessons from Alfie's murder to help ensure that such a horrific event never happens again.
“I call on all appropriate authorities and stakeholders to engage openly and constructively in the review.”
Scott, of Vashon Drive in Droitwich, and Howell, of Princip Street in Birmingham, will be sentenced at Coventry Crown Court tomorrow (Thursday).