Man jailed for killing London toddler

A postman who killed his girlfriend's 18-month-old son after a series of assaults has been jailed for nine years.

Scott Coombe repeatedly caused bruises and minor injuries to Andrew Cawker before losing "control" and killing him on July 22 2019.

The 24-year-old, of Petts Wood, south-east London, had been "besotted" with the child's mother Tamika Beaton but struggled to cope, the Old Bailey heard.

Following his death, Coombe even claimed he had raised concern with his brother, who was a serving police officer.

Last year, Coombe admitted manslaughter and child cruelty relating to three earlier incidents of assault or mistreatment.

Beaton, 25, from Peckham, south-east London, was found guilty of child cruelty by wilful neglect following a trial.

On Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC jailed Coombe at the Old Bailey for nine years.

He sentenced Beaton to 12 months in custody suspended for 18 months.

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