Ex-EFL footballer convicted of child cruelty after inflicting life-changing brain injuries on a two-year-old girl

Former EFL footballer Kiernan Hughes-Mason has been found guilty of child abuse and grievous bodily harm after causing life-changing brain injuries to a two-year-old girl.

The 32-year-old man left his victim with the 24-hour care he needed after the attack in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex in 2020.

His sentence will be pronounced at Basildon Crown Court on September 10.

Hughes-Mason played for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during his youth career, before making two first-team appearances for Millwall between 2009 and 2010.

He later played non-League football for a number of clubs including Grimsby, Welling, Kettering, Maidstone, Leatherhead, Grays and Barking.

Hughes-Mason began his managerial career at Tower Hamlets last year and was manager of Enfield Borough before being sacked following Wednesday’s conviction.

In a statement from club chairman Marvin Walker on Wednesday evening it said: ‘Enfield Borough FC have decided to relieve Kiernan Mason-Hughes of his duties as manager with immediate effect.

‘This decision comes in light of recent revelations about serious legal matters in Mr Mason-Hughes’ past, which were not made public during the application process.

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

“We appreciate the understanding and continued support of our fans and community during this time. No further statement will be made.”

This club statement was issued by Enfield Borough FC after Hughes-Mason was convicted

Hashtag United, where Hughes-Mason played and coached between 2020 and 2022, also released a statement on Wednesday evening.

It read: ‘This evening the club has been made aware of some deeply shocking news regarding one of our former players and reserve team manager, Kiernan Hughes-Mason, who has been found guilty of crimes that are simply abhorrent. Firstly, everyone involved with the club would like to express our deepest condolences to the victim and his family. We cannot possibly imagine what they have been through since these horrific events took place.

‘We can state categorically that the club had no knowledge of these events until today. We have been told that the crimes of which he has now been found guilty took place before he joined us. A number of serious flaws in the procedures have been exposed, as we had confirmation from the relevant authorities that he could act as a coach as part of the standard background checks.

‘Our club has an absolute zero tolerance policy for any behaviour, even if it is closely related to this behaviour. Our values ​​are centred around positivity, inclusivity and above all creating a safe space for everyone.

‘We would like to reiterate our sincere condolences for what the victim and her family have had to endure and would like to remind anyone reading this that there are a number of resources available should you need them: Child Helpline: 0800 1111, National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247.’

Hashtag United have also released a statement from the club following the news of Hughes-Mason’s conviction

Hughes-Mason called 999 on January 31, 2020, asking for an ambulance when he should have been caring for his ex-partner’s daughter.

When emergency services arrived, he initially stated that he was downstairs when he heard a loud noise from upstairs and that he thought the girl had fallen on a dollhouse.

The girl was placed in an induced coma and doctors discovered 17 different injuries to her legs, back, face and chest.

It is believed that all of these injuries occurred between October 2019 and January 2020.

Hughes-Mason was arrested on February 14, 2020.

During the investigation, police officers found messages from Hughes-Mason in which he wrote: “She’s really getting on my nerves” and “I’m going to hit her”.

The prosecutor said in his pleadings: ‘The experts are unanimous in the opinion that the child’s serious head and brain injuries could not have been caused accidentally while she was alone in her room.

From the outset, Hughes-Mason was keen to portray himself to police as the devoted stepfather who treated the children as his own and told them how much he loved them.

‘Yet in his text messages written at the time, he consistently referred to them as “your children” or “your child” to the child’s mother. He frequently belittled them, talked about them as if they were stupid, and put them down.

‘With respect to the head and brain injuries sustained by the child… the experts all agree that the pattern of injuries found is consistent with the child having been violently shaken… with her head likely striking a hard surface.

“The only explanation for the pattern of injuries sustained by the child is that these injuries were intentional and inflicted by the suspect.”

A statement from the victim’s family said: ‘We finally have a verdict and that man will now be held accountable for what he did to our little girl.

“We were put through something that no family should ever have to go through, and our girl will live with the consequences of what he did to her for the rest of her life.”