A former Millwall football player was found guilty of child abuse after causing a two-year-old daughter to suffer 17 injuries that required round-the-clock care.
Doctors described Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 32,’s injuries as “equivalent to a high-speed crash,” and they were so severe that his victim was placed into a coma following the incident in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, in 2020.
When police started looking into him after the incident, they discovered texts he sent to a friend saying, “I’m going to hit her,” and “She’s actually getting on my nerves.”
Hughes-Mason made two appearances for Millwall’s senior squad in 2009 and 2010, having previously played youth football for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Having already been found guilty of both child cruelty and serious bodily harm, Basildon Crown Court will sentence him on September 10.
After attacking a two-year-old girl, former Millwall football player Kiernan Hughes-Mason (shown here when playing for Welling United in 2013) was found guilty of both child cruelty and gross bodily harm.
On September 10, Kiernan Hughes-Mason is scheduled to be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court.
This Monday, he was fired as manager of non-league Enfield Borough FC, one of his former clubs, denouncing his’shocking’ and’sickening’ actions.
During his trial, it was revealed that on January 31, 2020, Hughes-Mason, who was meant to be looking after his ex-partner’s daughter, dialled 999 and requested an ambulance.
He first claimed to have been downstairs when he heard a loud bang coming from upstairs and thought the little girl had fallen on a doll’s house, until paramedics arrived.
After putting the kid in an induced sleep, medical professionals found that her legs, back, face, and chest had sustained 17 separate injuries.
All of these injuries are thought to have occurred between October 2019 and January 2020. The arrest of Hughes-Mason occurred on February 14, 2020.
‘The experts are all united of the conclusion that the child’s terrible head and brain injuries could not have been caused unintentionally while she was alone in her room,’ the prosecution barrister stated in their final remarks.
Hughesses-Mason was eager to show the police that he was the loving stepfather who cared for the kids and expressed his affection for them right away.
However, he frequently referred to them as “your children” or “your child” to the mother in text messages he wrote at the time. On a frequent basis, he put them down, spoke as though they were foolish, and denigrated them.
Regarding the infant’s head and brain injury, specialists concur that the pattern of injuries indicates that the youngster was likely violently shook and that her skull was likely struck by a hard surface.
After the attack in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, in 2020, Kiernan Hughes-Mason (shown, left, with Tasman United, a New Zealand club, where he played in 2018 and 2019) caused so severe injuries that his two-year-old victim was placed in a coma.Following his two appearances for Millwall’s first team in 2009 and 2010, Hughes-Mason played for a number of non-league teams in England and New Zealand.
“The only plausible explanation for the child’s pattern of injuries is that they were intentionally caused by this defendant.”
The family of the victim released a statement following his conviction, saying, “We finally have a verdict and that man is now held accountable for what he did to our little girl.”
“The things he has done to our daughter will affect her for the rest of her life, and we have had to go through what no family should ever have to go through.”
“Hughes-Mason refused to admit what he had done and subjected the family of this little girl to weeks of details of the injuries he allowed or inflicted,” stated Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd of Essex Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team following the verdict.
Her family appeared in court and displayed only strength and respect. I am really proud of them for how they have behaved during this trial, even though they are directly affected by his crimes.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to all the officers from the Child Abuse Investigation Team who contributed to this case. Over the course of the last four years, numerous officers and detectives worked assiduously to ensure that this case was as solid as possible. It was a difficult and complex investigation.”
This belief is significant. Hughes-Mason blamed other people or accidents for the child’s injuries, refusing to take accountability for any of the child’s wounds. The wounds this little girl received from this vicious abuse are never going to heal.
“The severity of the injuries was evident to the doctors; they were consistent with a high-speed collision and could only have been caused by a violent assault.”
Hughes-Mason played football in the non-league for a number of teams after leaving Millwall, including Grimsby, Welling, Kettering, Maidstone, Leatherhead, Greys, and Barking.
Following his conviction, Hughes-Mason was found guilty by several of his previous teams, including Hashtag United in Essex, where he played from 2020 to 2022 (see photo).
He started his managerial career with Tower Hamlets last year and was in charge of Enfield Borough when he was fired on Wednesday due to the conviction.
Kiernan Mason-Hughes will no longer be managing Enfield Borough FC, effective immediately, according to a statement released by club chairman Marvin Walker yesterday evening.
This choice was made in view of recent information that was not made public during the recruiting process about significant legal issues from Mr. Mason-Hughes’ past.
As a team dedicated to upholding the greatest levels of accountability and honesty, Enfield Borough FC feels that taking this action is essential to upholding these ideals.
We are grateful for the community’s and our fans’ understanding and ongoing support at this difficult time. There won’t be any further statements made.
Hughes-Mason coached and played for Hashtag United, a semi-professional Essex team, from 2020 to 2022. The team also released a statement on Wednesday night.
The statement said: “This evening, the club has learnt of some extremely upsetting information pertaining to Kiernan Hughes-Mason, our former player and manager of the reserve team, who has been found guilty of some really disgusting crimes.”
First and foremost, the victim and their family have our sincere sympathies from everyone connected to the club. What they have been through since these horrifying incidents is beyond our comprehension.
“We can state with absolute certainty that the club was completely unaware of these events until today.”
Following Hughes-Mason’s conviction, Enfield Borough FC released the following club statement.A club statement was also released by Hashtag United in response to the news of Hughes-Mason’s conviction.
The crimes for which he has now been convicted guilty allegedly happened before he joined our group.
“We received confirmation from the appropriate authorities that he was cleared to coach as part of standard background checks, which has exposed some serious flaws in the procedures.”
“There is a zero tolerance policy in place at our club for any behaviour that is even remotely related to this.” Our principles are based on inclusivity, optimism, and, most importantly, making a safe environment for everyone.
‘We would want to remind everyone reading this of some options that are available should you need them, and we reaffirm our sincere sympathies for what the victim and their family have had to go through: National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247; Childline: 0800 1111.
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