The tragic incident, which took place in January 2020 in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, has left the young girl in need of 24-hour care. Her mother, emotionally distraught during the sentencing, shared the devastating impact the attack had on her daughter, explaining that she "cannot walk, crawl, or move her lower body." The child also lacks strength in her arms, is fed through a tube, and suffers from epilepsy. "She's no longer the little girl who would dance around the living room," her mother heartbreakingly told the court.
Hughes-Mason, who had a 15-year football career, began at Millwall and later played for clubs including Leatherhead, Kettering, and Saffron Walden. He also had a stint with Hashtag United, a social media-based team, and played briefly in New Zealand. Most recently, he was appointed manager of Enfield Borough FC, a role from which he has since been dismissed.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that the injuries sustained by the girl were comparable to those caused by "a fall from several storeys." Initially, Hughes-Mason had called paramedics, claiming the child had fallen and was conscious but unresponsive. The girl was taken to the hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma for 14 days, ultimately suffering life-altering brain injuries.
Following the sentencing, the NSPCC children's charity condemned Hughes-Mason’s actions, describing his assault as "brutal and cowardly." A spokesperson added, "Tragically, the two-year-old girl subjected to this violent assault will never recover from her injuries, a young life devastated before it had barely got started. It is difficult to understand what would drive a man to inflict so much harm on someone so vulnerable." The charity also called for a detailed review to determine whether more could have been done to prevent this tragedy and to strengthen protections for children in the future.
Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd of Essex Police criticized Hughes-Mason for lying to emergency services, hospital staff, and law enforcement on the day of the attack in an effort to cover up his crime. She described his behavior as "cowardly" and commended the young victim's family for their "incredible strength" throughout the investigation. Nudd expressed relief that justice had been served, noting, "Our county is a safer place now that Hughes-Mason is behind bars." She also acknowledged the efforts of the ambulance service and the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.
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