A MAN who shook and bashed a two-year-old girl in a “vicious assault” that was comparable to a high-speed crash and left her severely disabled has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Former footballer Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 32 , was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm and child cruelty to a then two-year-old girl in an incident on January 31, 2020.

Hughes-Mason, from Westcliff, injured the child so badly that the victim's mother was told she would either die in the night or be severely disabled for life. 

The girl, who is now 7, still has a “personality that shines through” and “creates joy” but now has no independence, being only able to say three or four words at a time, and requiring “expensive accommodations” due to her physical and mental disabilities.

Her mother said: “He took her future away from her - the life that was meant for her”

Judge Graham said to Hughes-Mason that he “not only shook her but bashed her head in as well” referring to the medical evidence which agreed that the child was shook to the extent it was comparable to a fall from several storeys or a car crash.

Medical evidence also found that Hughes-Mason must have hit the child against a hard surface. Judge Graham, while referring to a legal term for the most serious type of injury, added: “I cannot think of a now more clear and stark example of what catastrophic injury means than this case.”

In reference to Hughes-Masons silence throughout court proceedings, Judge Graham said: “You have had a chance during the trial, during the police interview, you have had the chance since.”

He added: “It was a vicious assault by you on the girl who was only two years old.

“This little’s girl’s life has been destroyed.”

On 31 January 2020 Hughes-Mason called paramedics after he claimed he found the young girl conscious but unresponsive.

The East of England Ambulance Service arrived within nine minutes of the call and rushed the child to Southend General Hospital. Her injuries were so severe she was placed in an induced coma and taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital for further treatment.

Doctors identified 17 different injuries and she remained in a coma for 14 days.

Hughes-Mason was arrested and later charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty in November 2022.

Judge Graham, whose sentence guidelines suggested a range of 10 to 16 years for this offence, said Hughes-Masons good character was noted, taking two years off, as well as Hughes Mason "to his credit" calling 999 quickly.

However, other aggravating features were also applied meaning Hughes-Mason was imprisoned to 14 years with a further indefinite restraining order made to protect child and the child's family.