Ex-boyfriend found guilty of manslaughter of woman's young son left with brain damage after beating

A woman's former boyfriend has been found guilty of the manslaughter of her young son, who died two years after a beating which left him with brain damage.

Kol Page was not breathing, had bruises on his face and a serious abdomen injury from a stamp or punch when paramedics arrived on 25 April 2022. His internal injuries were so bad he could not be given enough pain medication without risking his life.

Kol lived for two more years before dying on 29 June 2024. Zoe Coutts, his mother, was convicted on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court of allowing the death of a child, while her boyfriend at the time, Scott O'Connor, was convicted of manslaughter.

They were cleared of murder. Evidence showed that Kol suffered "sustained abuse" for months at the home in Downham Way, Bromley.

The pair lied to friends and family that his injuries were because he was always "falling off things and bumping into things" - a claim his mother continued with when she was arrested. But phone data showed 36-year-old O'Connor, her new partner, had been at the family home 28 times in the month before the attack.

Pictures showed the toddler's injuries getting steadily worse during this period, including multiple black eyes and a bald patch from where his hair had been torn out. Shocking text messages Shockingly, texts revealed the couple joking about hurting Kol, and sharing images of his injuries.

Coutts, 35, had messaged O'Connor to say Kol had been "whinging.