Pictured: south Essex man and woman who left a child with life-threatening injuries

Two people face years in prison for their actions after a child was subjected to a campaign of physical abuse and suffered life-threatening injuries.

Vicky Hoad, 30, and Tyler Williams, 28, both of Brentwood, previously denied causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm earlier this year. However, a thorough police investigation left them with no choice but to admit their guilt.

Hoad also admitted to perverting the course of justice.

** WARNING: Detail of injuries**

On Boxing Day in 2022, Hoad took the child to a hospital in Essex, saying they had fallen off a bike a couple of days earlier and become unwell.

Medical professionals quickly established that the child’s injuries were far more extensive than Hoad suggested, and police were called. Hoad was arrested later the same evening – she continued to maintain her initial account to police and other professionals throughout the following months.

Despite their life-threatening condition, the child underwent emergency surgery and survived.

Detective Constable Ollie Jones, who led the investigation, said: “Anyone who hears the details of this case cannot fail to be sickened by the injuries caused to this child and the impact this will undoubtedly have on the rest of their life.

“Both defendants in this case either caused the serious physical harm or knew what was happening and failed to take any reasonable steps to protect the child. They continued to lie throughout the police investigation but our child abuse investigation team worked tirelessly to build the case against them in order to get justice for the victim. This included working closely with medical experts and mapping out a timeline of the child’s life in the months leading up to their admission to hospital.

“This was a harrowing case for all of the officers involved but we are pleased that those responsible will now have to face the consequences of their actions."

Metropolitan Police says the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was subject to a campaign of abuse which saw them suffer swelling to the scalp, torn out hair, a fractured jaw, damage to brain tissue, and multiple bruises to the body.

Following Hoad’s arrest, specialist safeguarding detectives based in east London began an extensive investigation and built a significant amount of evidence to prove that the child had been subjected to assaults over a period of months, and that both defendants were implicated in the offence.

A third person was found not guilty of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm following a trial which concluded on Thursday.

Hoad and Williams will be sentenced at a later date.