Former Enfield district manager jailed for attacking child

Hughes-Mason, 32, injured the child so badly that the victim’s mother was told she would either die that night or be severely disabled for the rest of her life.

On Tuesday (September 10), he was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of intentional grievous bodily harm and child abuse.

On New Year’s Eve 2020, Hughes-Mason called an ambulance and claimed to have found the girl conscious but unresponsive.

The girl was placed in an artificial coma after doctors discovered 17 different injuries. She remained in the coma for 14 days.

The girl, now 7 years old, still has a “bright personality” and is “a joy to be around,” but she is no longer independent, can only say three or four words at a time, and requires “expensive accommodation” due to her physical and mental disabilities.

Her mother said: “We will continue to do our best to make sure she enjoys every day as much as possible. We love her more than anything in the world.”

“We are grateful that some form of justice has been served today, but this verdict is not comparable to the life sentence our little girl now faces.

“We mourn all the experiences we could have shared with her that were taken from her by a violent coward, and we celebrate every day we are left to share with our beautiful young girl.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd of Essex Police’s child abuse investigation team said: “Her family have appeared in court and shown nothing but dignity and strength.”

“I cannot praise their conduct throughout this process enough as they experience the consequences of his actions first hand.

“I would also like to thank all the officers from the Child Abuse Investigation Team who were involved in this case. This has been a challenging and complex investigation, with multiple officers and detectives working tirelessly over the past four years to ensure this case is as compelling as possible.

“This conviction is important. Hughes-Mason denied responsibility for any of the child’s injuries and pointed the finger or blamed others for accidents.

“This little girl will never recover from the injuries she suffered in this brutal attack.

“The doctors were clear about the extent of the injuries – they were consistent with a high-speed accident and had to be the result of a violent attack. We are now awaiting his sentencing.”

Hughes-Mason played for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during his youth career before moving on to play for a variety of clubs including Millwall, Hashtag United, Leatherhead, Welling and Grays and Barking.

Hughes-Mason began his managerial career at Tower Hamlets last year before taking charge at Enfield Borough, a post he was sacked from following his conviction.

Club chairman Marvin Walker released a statement saying: “Enfield Borough FC has decided to relieve Kiernan Hughes-Mason of his duties as manager with immediate effect.”

“The decision comes in light of recent revelations concerning serious legal issues from Mr Hughes-Mason’s past that were not disclosed during the recruitment process.

“Enfield Borough FC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability and we believe this action is necessary to uphold those values.

“We appreciate the understanding and continued support of our fans and community during this time.”

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Hughes-Mason launched a brutal and cowardly attack on a defenceless toddler who was entrusted to his care. Tragically, the two-year-old girl who was subjected to this brutal attack will never recover from her injuries – a young life destroyed before it even began.”

“It is difficult to understand what drives a man to inflict so much suffering on such a vulnerable person. It is now vital that a detailed investigation into this shocking case provides thorough evidence of whether anything could have been done to stop Hughes-Mason and to try to provide better protection for children in the future.

“Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]. NSPCC staff offer free and confidential help and advice and can take appropriate steps to keep children safe. If a child is in immediate danger, please call 999.”