A MUM and her evil partner who branded her son a “little s**t” in texts have been found guilty of murdering him in a night of “violent discipline”.
Alfie Phillips was left with 70 separate injuries and had cocaine in his system after he died following a string of brutal attacks.
The 18-month-old had been subjected a campaign of abuse at the hands of his mum Sian Hedges, 27, and her partner Jack Benham, 35.
On the night he was killed, the couple were accused of “meting out some sort of aggressive, violent ‘discipline’.”
They have now been found guilty of murdering little Alfie in a caravan in Hernhill, Kent.
During a harrowing trial, jurors were told Hedges had considered adoption when she fell pregnant in September 2018.
The mum eventually decided to keep Alfie, who was a “normal, healthy baby who grew and thrived during the early months of his life”.
But his short life turned into a nightmare when Hedges embarked on a relationship with Benham.
Family members started to notice bruises on the tot, which Hedges blamed on him being “clumsy”.
He was also taken to a medical centre where staff noted he had a cut under his eye in September 2019.
During this time, the evil couple shared horrific messages that hinted at the abuse Alfie was suffering.
In one, Hedges wrote: “Little s**t bit my arm this morning, f***ing hurt”.
Benham responded by suggesting she should bite the tot back “but not as hard”.
On November 27, 2020, Alfie was seen by members of Benham’s family looking “well and without injuries”.
He was taken back to the caravan and was not seen by anyone else until 11.30am the next day when Benham emerged carrying the “blue and floppy” baby who was not breathing.
Benham’s mum performed CPR until paramedics arrived and took over but it was immediately apparent Alfie had been dead “for some time”.
A post mortem later revealed Alfie had sustained 31 injuries to his head and neck, 11 to his arms, 17 to his legs and 11 to his torso.
He had multiple fractures to several ribs and his sternum, both arms and his left and right big toe and human bite marks.
Medics found there were potential signs of smothering to his mouth and lips and many of the injuries had been inflicted before Alfie’s death.
This included a “myriad of bruises” that hadn’t been on his tiny body the night before he was killed.
Benham, of Hernhill, and Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
They were remanded into custody to be sentenced on December 19.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kath Way, said: “Today’s verdict will not bring Alfie back, but it does mean that Hedges and Benham lose their right to freedom and life as they know it.
“Alfie should have been protected and loved by his mum, instead Hedges and Benham inflicted unimaginable suffering on him during a sustained and lengthy night of violence.
“They refused to admit what they had done and put the rest of Alfie’s family, who loved him dearly, through the ordeal of a trial, where details of their horrendous abuse was detailed for all to hear.
“Alfie would have been four now and would have recently started school. Instead, his life was cruelly taken away by those he should have been able to trust the most.
“I hope today’s verdict can offer some justice for Alfie and allows his father and other family members some closure.”
