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| Man guilty of killing abused boy | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been convicted of causing the death of his partner's two-year-old son at their Cheshire home. | |
| Joshua Jones was found dead at the home of Wayne Davenport, 26, and partner Nichola Bowman in Tilbury Place, Runcorn, in November 2007. | Joshua Jones was found dead at the home of Wayne Davenport, 26, and partner Nichola Bowman in Tilbury Place, Runcorn, in November 2007. |
| The jury at Chester Crown Court was told the toddler suffered a bang to the head and died from brain swelling after suffering weeks of abuse. | The jury at Chester Crown Court was told the toddler suffered a bang to the head and died from brain swelling after suffering weeks of abuse. |
| Bowman, 24, was found guilty of allowing her child to be harmed. | Bowman, 24, was found guilty of allowing her child to be harmed. |
| Joshua had been left in the care of Davenport while Bowman went to the pub with friends. | Joshua had been left in the care of Davenport while Bowman went to the pub with friends. |
| Joshua was allowed to die at the hands of somebody he feared, somebody who had hurt him before, while his mum took no action to protect him Det Insp Helen SpoonerCheshire Police | Joshua was allowed to die at the hands of somebody he feared, somebody who had hurt him before, while his mum took no action to protect him Det Insp Helen SpoonerCheshire Police |
| Davenport had moved into the house just two weeks after the couple met and Bowman knew he had a history of violence and drug abuse, the court was told. | Davenport had moved into the house just two weeks after the couple met and Bowman knew he had a history of violence and drug abuse, the court was told. |
| Jurors heard that Joshua was frightened of Davenport and did not like being in the same room as him. | Jurors heard that Joshua was frightened of Davenport and did not like being in the same room as him. |
| The prosecution said Davenport had "lost his patience" and killed the two-year-old after subjecting him to weeks of physical abuse. | The prosecution said Davenport had "lost his patience" and killed the two-year-old after subjecting him to weeks of physical abuse. |
| On the night Joshua died, Davenport called an ambulance, saying he was limp and lifeless. He was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. | On the night Joshua died, Davenport called an ambulance, saying he was limp and lifeless. He was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. |
| Tears in court | Tears in court |
| Post-mortem tests found Joshua had suffered bruises to his thighs, knees and arm. He had scratches to his ankle, three marks on his back, and had suffered a broken arm and two rib fractures. | Post-mortem tests found Joshua had suffered bruises to his thighs, knees and arm. He had scratches to his ankle, three marks on his back, and had suffered a broken arm and two rib fractures. |
| The toddler also had bite marks on his arm, which matched Davenport's teeth. | The toddler also had bite marks on his arm, which matched Davenport's teeth. |
| Det Insp Helen Spooner, of Cheshire Police, said: "This was a difficult and extremely harrowing investigation. | Det Insp Helen Spooner, of Cheshire Police, said: "This was a difficult and extremely harrowing investigation. |
| "The death of any child is distressing, but in this case Joshua was allowed to die at the hands of somebody he feared, somebody who had hurt him before, while his mum took no action to protect him. | "The death of any child is distressing, but in this case Joshua was allowed to die at the hands of somebody he feared, somebody who had hurt him before, while his mum took no action to protect him. |
| "She ignored and covered up the injuries to her child, lying to the authorities and to Joshua's own dad to protect herself and her partner, Davenport. | "She ignored and covered up the injuries to her child, lying to the authorities and to Joshua's own dad to protect herself and her partner, Davenport. |
| "The catalogue of injuries inflicted on the toddler reduced members of the court to tears when recounted by medical experts, yet his mum turned a blind eye as her son suffered at the hands of a violent man. | "The catalogue of injuries inflicted on the toddler reduced members of the court to tears when recounted by medical experts, yet his mum turned a blind eye as her son suffered at the hands of a violent man. |
| "They will both live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives. | "They will both live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives. |
| "The criminal investigation into Joshua's death was carried out meticulously and with professionalism by a small team of officers from the Cheshire Constabulary major investigation team, resulting in today's convictions, and ensuring justice for Joshua and those who loved him." | "The criminal investigation into Joshua's death was carried out meticulously and with professionalism by a small team of officers from the Cheshire Constabulary major investigation team, resulting in today's convictions, and ensuring justice for Joshua and those who loved him." |
| Davenport and Bowman are due to be sentenced at a later date. | Davenport and Bowman are due to be sentenced at a later date. |