Man who murdered toddler because she was crying sentenced to life imprisonment during hearing at Sheffield Crown Court

Jonathan Garner was given a life sentence at Sheffield Crown Court today for murdering Mia Gregson at her home in Hull in February 2014.

Mia's mother, Samantha Gregson, also 26, was jailed for four years for allowing her daughter's death.

Gregson sobbed in dock as the sentences were handed down while Garner, who was handcuffed to a prison officer, showed no emotion.

The judge, Mr Justice Goss, said he believed Garner had tried to smother Mia before and was also responsible for a series of other injuries found on the little girl when her body was examined.

He told Garner: "This was a bad case of child cruelty involving abusive and violent behaviour and, ultimately, the use of fatal violence on a very young and vulnerable child."

The judge said he accepted that Gregson, who has had two more children since Mia's death, was controlled and abused by Garner, and that she had been a loving mother to her daughter before the relationship started.

But he told her: "You were warned at the outset that Jonanthan Garner posed a risk to Mia and his subsequent behaviour confirmed that."

The judge said Garner ‘bullied, threatened and injured’ Mia in the time he lived with her.

He said that Gregson had been warned by social service about Garner's history of domestic violence and that he was not to have contact with her daughter, but she ignored the warning.

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The judge said to Gregson: "You failed to act on the obvious injuries Mia was suffering and must have been aware of the ongoing risk that your partner posed to the heath and well-being of your daughter."

During an eight-week trial, a jury how heard how Mia was taken to hospital in February 13, 2014, but died later.

The judge said the couple "peddled lies" about what happened in the terraced house on Dorset Street.

Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said Garner was heard by neighbours "regularly, if not almost constantly" shouting at the little girl.

He told the jury: "The shouting took the form of threats of violence towards her and was motivated by Mia's crying."

Opening the case to the jury in October, Mr Smith said: "The prosecution contend that Jonathan Garner had been shouting at Mia and had been threatening her with violence on the day that she died."

The prosecutor said neighbours had been disturbed by Garner shouting at Mia from almost as soon as they moved into the house three weeks before the girl died. The jury were told that police were called to the home less than three weeks before the tragedy.

Officers responding to the anonymous call from a neighbour concerned about the ‘hideous’ yelling found Mia asleep and accepted Garner's explanation that he had been shouting at the dog.

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Mr Smith said that the night before Mia died, a neighbour heard Garner shouting at the little girl: "Shut the f*** up. Stop screaming at me. Get to bed."

Mr Smith said the woman heard shouting again at 7am, saying: "I'm going to f***** belt you."

Garner, of Thirlmere Avenue, Hull, and Gregson, of Melling Close, Chesterfield, denied the offences but were found guilty by the jury on Tuesday after almost a day of deliberations.

Detective Superintendent Matt Baldwin, from Humberside Police, said: "While I am pleased that justice has been achieved, sadly it does not bring Mia back.

"Mia suffered tragically at Garner's hands while Gregson allowed weeks of neglect and abuse to go on against her daughter, leading ultimately to her tragic death.

"I am confident following the sentences today, it will serve to protect any other children coming to any harm from the pair, as they will both be behind bars for a long time."

Speaking after the hearing, an NSPCC spokesman said “Garner’s brutality cruelly cut short the life of little Mia, subjecting her to horrendous abuse and neglect whilst, unbelievably, her mother stood by.

“Babies and young children are completely dependent upon the adults who care for them and Garner and Gregson abandoned that responsibility with tragic consequences.

“We all have a duty to look out for children’s welfare and anyone concerned about a child can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, free of charge. If a child is in immediate danger, please call 999.”

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