Chelmsford footballer branded ‘violent coward’ after sentencing
Kiernan Hughes-Mason has been sentenced for assaulting a two-year-old girl who has been left with life-changing injuries.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty following the attack in Westcliff-on-Sea in January 2020.
The 32-year-old denied the charges but was found unanimously guilty on 20 August following a trial at Basildon Crown Court.
Today, Tuesday 10 September Hughes-Mason was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison.
The victim's mother has said, "on the 31 January 2020 our whole world was blown apart."
The family has said the girl's been left with significant physical and mental disabilities.
“She cannot sit, stand or walk independently, requiring a hoist to move her," says her mother.
“The brain damage caused has affected her communication, she cannot even tell us where her pain is or what upsets her.
“She is now epileptic, suffers with sleep disorders, struggles to eat and cannot drink – she is tube-fed for all her hydration and nutritional needs."
They added, her personality "shines through despite this."
After the sentencing today, Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd said, “Hughes-Mason lied to 999 call handlers, paramedics, police officers and hospital staff on the day of the incident. immediately trying to cover up his attack.
"He can only be described as a coward.
She added, “Most of all our thoughts are with an immensely brave girl and her family who have worked with us to make sure justice was done. Our county is a safer place now that Hughes-Mason is behind bars."