‘Utterly heartbreaking’: Couple guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty as toddler dies in their care

A couple have been found guilty of manslaughter and child abuse respectively after an 18-month-old toddler was killed.

Scott Coombe, 24, of Towncourt Lane, Petts Wood pleaded guilty to manslaughter of toddler Andrew Cawker at a hearing at the Old Bailey in February.

There were reporting restrictions in place until yesterday when Andrew’s mother, Tamika Beaton, 25, of Cole Street, Borough, was found guilty of child cruelty.

Coombe had started a relationship with Beaton in July 2018, and over the course of a year repeatedly assaulted Andrew, which ended in a fatal attack on July 9, 2019.

Coombe claimed Andrew had fallen over and suffered a seizure, but after he was admitted to hospital and examined by medical professionals, suspicions were raised that the injuries sustained could not have been accidental.

Andrew never regained consciousness, and died in hospital on July 23, 2019.

Coombe was arrested on suspicion of GBH, and following Andrew’s death he was further arrested on suspicion of murder.

A post-mortem examination found that Andrew had died as a result of a head injury, but other bruises were found around his face and shoulder.

The pathologist said that the level of injuries made Coombe’s account of them appear “implausible”.

Police examined the phones of Coombe and Beaton, which contained pictures and messages of injuries suffered by Andrew over a period of months.

It became clear that the injuries happened while Andrew was in the sole care of Coombe.

Beaton indicated she was aware that Andrew was receiving injuries while in the care of Coombe in messages sent to her mother, but decided not to take action.

Beaton was found guilty of child cruelty following the conclusion of a trial at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Both Beaton and Coombe will be sentenced on Friday, November 18.

Detective Sergeant Quinn Cutler, a homicide detective, led the investigation, and said: “This is an utterly heartbreaking case where a defenceless child has sustained prolonged abuse at the hands of those who should have been caring for him, resulting in his death.

“Andrew should have been in the place where he felt safe; at home with his mother and her partner. However, over the course of a year, Andrew suffered regular assaults at the hands of Scott Coombe, culminating in the attack on July 9, 2019 which proved to be fatal.

“His mother, Tamika Beaton, clearly suspected Coombe was responsible for these injuries, but chose not to intervene or seek help. Indeed, when questioned by police she sought to place the blame on another man.

“While Beaton did not directly inflict injuries on her son, her inaction most certainly played a part in his death.”

Pictured top: Toddler Andrew Cauker (Picture: Metropolitan Police)