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| Alfie Lamb car seat death: Man admits manslaughter | Alfie Lamb car seat death: Man admits manslaughter |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man has admitted crushing a three-year-old boy to death by reversing his seat as the boy sat in a car footwell. | A man has admitted crushing a three-year-old boy to death by reversing his seat as the boy sat in a car footwell. |
| Stephen Waterson, 26, killed Alfie Lamb - his girlfriend's son - in February 2018. | Stephen Waterson, 26, killed Alfie Lamb - his girlfriend's son - in February 2018. |
| Waterson initially denied manslaughter but changed his plea to guilty ahead of a retrial at the Old Bailey. | Waterson initially denied manslaughter but changed his plea to guilty ahead of a retrial at the Old Bailey. |
| In May, Alfie's mother Adrian Hoare - who watched as her son was crushed - was jailed for two years and nine months for child cruelty. | In May, Alfie's mother Adrian Hoare - who watched as her son was crushed - was jailed for two years and nine months for child cruelty. |
| Hoare was cleared of manslaughter while a jury failed to reach a verdict on the same charge for Waterson. | Hoare was cleared of manslaughter while a jury failed to reach a verdict on the same charge for Waterson. |
| The court had heard Waterson had been annoyed at Alfie's crying on a journey back from a shopping trip and moved his seat into him as he sat in the footwell at his mother's feet. | The court had heard Waterson had been annoyed at Alfie's crying on a journey back from a shopping trip and moved his seat into him as he sat in the footwell at his mother's feet. |
| When Alfie continued to moan, Waterson reversed again, saying, "I won't be told what to do by a three-year-old," Hoare told jurors. | When Alfie continued to moan, Waterson reversed again, saying, "I won't be told what to do by a three-year-old," Hoare told jurors. |
| Alfie collapsed in the car and died in hospital three days later from irreversible brain injuries. | Alfie collapsed in the car and died in hospital three days later from irreversible brain injuries. |
| In their trial earlier this year Hoare, of Gravesend, Kent, told a string of lies to protect her boyfriend, claiming she had been in a taxi, while Waterson fled in the Audi. | In their trial earlier this year Hoare, of Gravesend, Kent, told a string of lies to protect her boyfriend, claiming she had been in a taxi, while Waterson fled in the Audi. |
| Det Ch Insp Simon Harding said: "Stephen Waterson and Adrian Hoare, even after Alfie died, were more concerned about being together. | Det Ch Insp Simon Harding said: "Stephen Waterson and Adrian Hoare, even after Alfie died, were more concerned about being together. |
| "Stephen Waterson was concerned the real story never came out. He went on to intimidate and assault people." | "Stephen Waterson was concerned the real story never came out. He went on to intimidate and assault people." |
| Waterson also gave officers a false name, a false statement and sold the Audi. | Waterson also gave officers a false name, a false statement and sold the Audi. |
| Hoare eventually broke her silence and told her half-sister Ashleigh Jeffrey what happened in a taped conversation handed to police. | Hoare eventually broke her silence and told her half-sister Ashleigh Jeffrey what happened in a taped conversation handed to police. |
| Jurors were also told Waterson had three previous convictions for attacking an ex-girlfriend and his sister's husband. | Jurors were also told Waterson had three previous convictions for attacking an ex-girlfriend and his sister's husband. |
| Waterson, the adopted son of former Conservative minister Nigel Waterson, admitted manslaughter by gross negligence on what was set to be the first day of his retrial. | Waterson, the adopted son of former Conservative minister Nigel Waterson, admitted manslaughter by gross negligence on what was set to be the first day of his retrial. |
| He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 9 September. | He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 9 September. |
| Det Ch Insp Harding said: "For a three-and-a-half-year-old to be crushed by something so strong and no-one helping, it's a shocking way to die. | Det Ch Insp Harding said: "For a three-and-a-half-year-old to be crushed by something so strong and no-one helping, it's a shocking way to die. |
| "Stephen Waterson has come across as a selfish, abhorrent individual". | "Stephen Waterson has come across as a selfish, abhorrent individual". |
| Angela Moriarty, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a harrowing and difficult case for all those involved, but finally justice has been served for Alfie." | Angela Moriarty, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a harrowing and difficult case for all those involved, but finally justice has been served for Alfie." |
| Speaking after the hearing police revealed social services had been involved in Alfie's care and that the Medway Safeguarding Children Board is conducting a serious case review. |