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| Man guilty of killing abused boy | Man guilty of killing abused boy |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A man has been convicted of causing the death of his partner's two-year-old son at their Cheshire home. | 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 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 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, who had a history of drug abuse and violence, while Bowman went to the pub with friends. | Joshua had been left in the care of Davenport, who had a history of drug abuse and violence, 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 |
| Jurors heard Joshua was frightened of Davenport and did not like being in the same room as him. | Jurors heard 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 that Joshua died, Davenport called an ambulance, saying he was limp and lifeless. He was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. | |
| Black eyes | Black eyes |
| 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. |
| Weeks before he died, Joshua's biological father, Jason Jones, had seen his son with two black eyes. | Weeks before he died, Joshua's biological father, Jason Jones, had seen his son with two black eyes. |
| Joshua was in hospital for six days while the authorities investigated the injury, but John Deane, Joshua's grandfather, said he had caused the fracture to Joshua's arm by lifting him by the wrists. Medical experts disputed the claim. | Joshua was in hospital for six days while the authorities investigated the injury, but John Deane, Joshua's grandfather, said he had caused the fracture to Joshua's arm by lifting him by the wrists. Medical experts disputed the claim. |
| He will live on in my heart and will never be forgotten Jason JonesJoshua's father | He will live on in my heart and will never be forgotten Jason JonesJoshua's father |
| Bowman told social services she would not leave Joshua alone with Davenport but days later left him to babysit and the fatal attack took place. | Bowman told social services she would not leave Joshua alone with Davenport but days later left him to babysit and the fatal attack took place. |
| 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. |
| "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." |
| 'Irreplaceable' | 'Irreplaceable' |
| Mr Jones said Joshua was a "beautiful" child. | Mr Jones said Joshua was a "beautiful" child. |
| "I loved him so much, he was my pride and joy. When we were together we were so happy," he said. | "I loved him so much, he was my pride and joy. When we were together we were so happy," he said. |
| "Our relationship was rock solid, nothing would break that. | "Our relationship was rock solid, nothing would break that. |
| "But now he is gone, I feel lost. I've lost not just my little boy, but my best friend. | "But now he is gone, I feel lost. I've lost not just my little boy, but my best friend. |
| "He is irreplaceable in my heart and he will live on in my heart and will never be forgotten. I miss him more everyday." | "He is irreplaceable in my heart and he will live on in my heart and will never be forgotten. I miss him more everyday." |
| Davenport was remanded in custody and Bowman was given conditional bail. Both are due to be sentenced at a later date. | Davenport was remanded in custody and Bowman was given conditional bail. Both are due to be sentenced at a later date. |