Four brothers join heartbreaking rollcall of kids killed in lockdown

Four brothers who died in a fire while their mother was out shopping have joined a heartbreaking rollcall of children killed during lockdown after another series of missed opportunities by social services. 

Kyson and Bryson Hoath, four, died alongside their three-year-old brothers, Leyton and Logan Hoath while locked inside their home in Sutton, south London, in December 2021. 

The Old Bailey heard how social services had been repeatedly involved with the children and their 27-year-old mother Deveca Rose but did not follow up on planned work because of Covid restrictions. 

Laurie-Anne Power KC, defending, said Rose's mental health had been deteriorating but social services had 'tiptoed' around her rather than making a 'robust and proactive' intervention. 

Tragically, the boys are among hundreds of children who died in lockdown due to abuse or neglect. Figures show 233 lost their lives from from 2020 to 2021 alone, although many of their cases did not reach the public domain. 

Below, we reveal some of the heartbreaking stories cases that have shocked the nation - as questions remain over how many more vulnerable youngsters were failed by the authorities. 

Alijah Thomas, five - murdered September 14, 2021

Five-year-old Alijah Thomas begged her mother Martina Madarova, 41, not to kill her as she strangled her to death at their home in Ealing, west London, on September 14, 2021.

Madarova had put on cartoons for her daughter Alijah Thomas before carrying out the act as the child said: 'Mummy, don't kill me.' She proceeded to strangle Aljah, before 'tucking her in with a blanket'.

The 41-year-old had been suffering with her mental health and turned to alcohol during the Covid lockdown, and had been in a 'dark place' the night before her daughter's tragic death.

She was given a five-year jail sentence after a judge ruled that she had 'low responsibility' over Alijah's death.

A court heard that in the months leading up to the incident, family members and friends became concerned for Madarova's wellbeing as she appeared 'increasingly stressed'.

She was concerned for her income, after her hours as a carer had been reduced, and had become anxious after missing the deadline to enrol Alijah at school.

On the morning of September 14, Alijah's father had left early for work and was notified a few hours later from a phone call from Madarova that their daughter was dead.

Jacob Crouch, 10 months - murdered on December 30, 2020 

Another heartbreaking case of vicious child abuse saw 10-month-old Jacob Crouch murdered by his stepfather while his mother did nothing to help. 

Craig Crouch was found guilty of murder in August last year and his partner - Jacob's mother Gemma Barton - was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. 

Their trial at Derby Crown Court heard how Jacob's tiny lifeless body was discovered on the morning of December 30, 2020, at the couple's then-home near Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

It was later discovered he had suffered 39 rib fractures from a violent assault by his controlling tormentor.

Crouch was ordered to serve a minimum term of 28 years after being found guilty of murder and three counts of child cruelty for causing 'acute physical and mental suffering' to Jacob over six months.

Jacob's mother, Gemma Barton, was also jailed for 10 years for causing or allowing his death and child cruelty, after being cleared of murder and manslaughter.

Derbyshire Police said the family were unknown to social services before Jacob's death, but social workers subsequently underwent training to 'strengthen practice'.  

Finley Boden, 10 months - murdered December 25, 2020

Ten-month-old Finley Boden died on Christmas Day 2020 just 39 days after he was returned to the care of his parents Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden. 

He suffered 130 separate injuries, including 71 bruises and 57 fractures that left almost every bone in his body broken.

Marsden and Boden, from Old Whittington in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, were found guilty of his murder and were handed life sentences in May 2023.

A damning review revealed that at a crucial hearing before magistrates on 1 October 2020 the local authority argued that Finley should return gradually to his parents' care through a 'transition plan' over four months, during which time he would be monitored for his safety. 

They also demanded that the parents be tested regularly for drugs and warned against the dangers of sending him back 'too soon.'

They also maintained that they had addressed their drug use with Shannon insisting that she had been 'given the incentive to quit completely.'

The review revealed that the hearing took place between Covid lockdowns when courts were still working remotely and that all parties argued their case over the phone. Marsden and Boden did not speak at all.

Alfie Phillips, 18 months - murdered on November 28, 2020 

Alfie Phillips was beaten and smothered to death by his evil mother Sian Hedges and her boyfriend Jack Benham at the height of the Covid pandemic. 

Traces of cocaine and alcohol were also found in Alfie's system, as his mother, Sian Hedges, blamed the restrictions for increasing her anxiety, which compelled her to take drugs on a weekly basis.

Alfie suffered more than 70 injuries to his tiny body when he was beaten to death and smothered by the evil pair during lockdown.

Fuelled by cocaine, whisky and cannabis until the early hours of the morning, Hedges, 27, and Benham, 35, carried out a night of 'violent discipline' after calling Alfie 'whingey and upset'.

The toddler died with a 'myriad of bruises', broken ribs, arms and leg, and also had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system, after the barbaric attack which took place in Benham's caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham, Kent on November 28, 2020. 

Earlier this year, a judge jailed the pair for life, with Hedges set to spent 19 years behind bars and Benham to serve 23 years.

Kaylea Titford, 16 - found dead October 10, 2020 

Also amongst the victims of lockdown is Kaylea Titford.

The 16-year-old, who suffered from spina bifida, was found dead at her home in Newtown, Powys, on October 10, 2020 after her parents allowed her to become morbidly obese during lockdown.

Her mother, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, 39, admitted manslaughter by gross negligence last year, while her father, Alun Titford, denied the charges and was found guilty after a trial last month.

The teenager weighed 22st 13lb with a BMI of 70 at the time of her death, and her body was discovered inside her bedroom in conditions described as 'unfit for any animal'.

A jury of eight men and four women convicted Titford after being shown pictures during the trial at Mold Crown Court in North Wales of the 'squalor and degradation' Kaylea had been forced to endure.

Star Hobson, 16 months - murdered September 22, 2020 

Star Hobson was just 16 months old when she was murdered by her mother's girlfriend Savannah Brockill in September 2020.

In the lead-up to her death, she had suffered months of abuse in her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020.

Former Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield, the chairwoman of the Commission on Young Lives, warned after Star's murder that the Covid lockdown 'brought its own opportunities for those who harm, groom and abuse children.'

Brockill is now serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years at HMP Styal in Cheshire, after being convicted in December 2021.

Star's mother, Frankie Smith, was convicted of causing or allowing the toddler's death and was initially sentenced to eight years behind bars.

This was increased to 12 years after a judicial review.

Social services missed five opportunities to stop Star's killers, with her great-grandfather Dave Fawcett saying after their convictions: 'It's disgusting because there were five referrals. Not one of them did anything. It's just beyond belief, really.'

Hughes, 29, was jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years after being found guilty of manslaughter - but cleared of murder - for encouraging the killing, including by sending a text message to Tustin 18 hours before the fatal assault telling her 'just end him'. 

Logan Mwangi, five - murdered July 31, 2020

Five-year-old Logan Mwangi was murdered by his mother, step-father and teenage step-brother on July 31, 2021.

His body, which suffered 56 'catastrophic' injuries consistent with a 'brutal and sustained assault' was found in the River Ogmore near his home in Sarn, Bridgend county.

John Cole, 40, Angharad Williamson, 31, and 14-year-old Craig Mulligan were all convicted of murder in April 2022.

Cole will serve a minimum of 29 years, Williamson at least 28 years, while teenage Mulligan will serve at least 15 years.

Social services repeatedly missed signs of abuse and opportunities to protect Logan, with injuries dating back to August 2020.

Inspectors have blasted the council which failed to protect murdered five-year-old Logan Mwangi, with the watchdog insisting 'serious concerns' remain about its children's services a full year after his death.

Care Inspectorate Wales noted there have been improvements at Bridgend County Borough Council in the last 12 months, but said there was still a need for 'further urgent action'.

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, murdered June 17, 2020

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, aged six, was murdered by his cruel stepmother Emma Tustin in June.

She was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years and the boy's father Thomas Hughes was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter. 

The boy had been seen by social workers just two months before his death, but they concluded there were no safeguarding concerns. 

In October 2019, Aileen Carabine, a special educational coordinator at Arthur's school, said Arthur 'deteriorated' that month. 

Hughes, 29, was jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years after being found guilty of manslaughter - but cleared of murder - for encouraging the killing, including by sending a text message to Tustin 18 hours before the fatal assault telling her 'just end him'.

Lola James, two - murdered July 17, 2020

Two-year-old Lola James was tragically killed by her evil stepfather, suffering 101 injuries including brain damage similar to what is sustained in high-speed car-crashes. 

Sinead James, 30, moved her partner Kyle Bevan, 31, into the house she shared with little Lola James in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, a day after meeting him on Facebook in February 2020.

Swansea Crown Court heard Bevan, who had a 'Jekyll and Hyde' temper, carried out a 'frenzied and extremely violent attack' on the young girl just four months later, causing 101 bruises and scratches and a catastrophic injury to the brain. 

Lola's mother was a victim of domestic abuse and had twice been educated on how to spot signs of an abuser, but chose to prioritise her relationship with Bevan over the safety of her child, the jury was told - before they convicted her of allowing Lola's death. 

James was told by the local authority not to invite adults into the family home if she did not know them well or if they were alcohol or drug abusers, but she ignored their advice. 

Kyrell Matthews, two - murdered October 20, 2019 

Kyrell Matthews, aged two, was left with 41 rib fractures and internal injuries by the time of his death after weeks of cruelty at the hands of his mother Phylesia Shirley and her boyfriend Kemar Brown.

Brown was convicted of murder while Shirley was acquitted of murder but found guilty of the alternative charge of manslaughter.

They appeared alongside each other in the dock as Brown was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison while Shirley was jailed for 13 years.

The toddler, who was non-verbal, could be heard crying and screaming on distressing audio files taken from Shirley's phone and played to jurors during the trial. 

Brown and Shirley are understood to have been visited by social services at least once.