Ex-footballer jailed 14 years for brutal attack on toddler
Hughes-Mason's attack left girl with life-altering injuries and disabilities
A former footballer severely attacked a two-year-old girl, leaving her unable to sit, stand, or walk independently and requiring tube feeding. Kiernan Hughes-Mason, who previously played for Millwall, tried to deceive emergency services by claiming the girl fell on a dollhouse. However, a doctor at the trial compared her injuries to those from a “high-speed road traffic accident” or a fall from several storeys.
Police discovered multiple messages on the 32-year-old’s phone sent days before the attack, with Hughes-Mason stating, “I’m gonna hit her.” On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The girl’s family labelled him a “violent coward.”
On 31 January 2020, Hughes-Mason called paramedics, claiming he found the girl, who he was caring for, conscious but unresponsive at a property in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. He told emergency services he heard a loud bang from her bedroom, believing she had fallen. The ambulance arrived within nine minutes and took the girl to Southend General Hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was placed in an induced coma and transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for further treatment.
I can't say too much as a will be banned for life. Needless to say I hope prison justice works it's magic.
Utter pond life. https://t.co/7rLYk5WCHb
— Steve Perkins (@Perky_43) September 11, 2024
Doctors identified 17 injuries to her face, chest, back, and legs, believed to have occurred between October 2019 and January 2020. The toddler remained in a coma for 14 days and suffered life-altering brain injuries. Experts agreed that her injuries were consistent with vigorous shaking and her head hitting a hard surface.
Hughes-Mason, 28 at the time of the attack, was arrested on 14 February 2020 and later released on bail as police gathered evidence, including statements from medical experts and messages from his phone. In the days leading up to the assault, he sent messages expressing frustration with the child and intent to harm her. He was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty in November 2022. Despite denying the charges, he was found guilty in August this year at Basildon Crown Court.
Following the sentencing, the girl’s family described her significant physical and mental disabilities, including the inability to sit, stand, or walk independently, constant pain, communication difficulties, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and the need for tube feeding. They mourned the experiences they would have shared with her and expressed some relief at the sentencing, though it does not compare to their daughter’s lifelong suffering.
Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd from Essex Police’s child abuse investigation team described Hughes-Mason as a coward for lying to emergency services and others to cover up his attack. She praised the bravery of the girl and her family in helping to achieve justice.
Hughes-Mason began his career at Millwall and later played for several other clubs, including Welling United and Leatherhead. Recently, he managed Enfield Borough, which terminated his employment upon learning of his legal issues.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Mirror Football reports that Kiernan Hughes-Mason, a former Championship footballer, has been jailed for 14 years after leaving a two-year-old girl with brain damage following a heinous attack.(read more)
- Essex Live reports that Kiernan Hughes-Mason, a former professional footballer, has been branded a “violent coward” and jailed for 14 years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty after a brutal attack on a young girl in January 2020.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Kiernan Hughes-Mason?
Kiernan Hughes-Mason is a former footballer who played for Millwall and other clubs.
What crime did Kiernan Hughes-Mason commit?
He attacked a two-year-old girl, causing severe injuries, and later lied about the incident.
What were the consequences for the girl after the attack?
The girl suffered life-changing brain injuries, cannot sit, stand, or walk independently, and is tube-fed.
What was Kiernan Hughes-Mason’s sentence?
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
How did the family describe Kiernan Hughes-Mason?
The family described him as a ‘violent coward’ and expressed sorrow for the girl’s lifelong disabilities.
