This week is the one-year anniversary of the sentencing of a postman who received a nine-year jail term for the murder of his girlfriend's 18-month-old son.

Devout Christian Scott Coombe was jailed for nine years on Friday, January 6, 2023, after he repeatedly caused bruises and minor injuries to Andrew Cawker before losing “control” and killing him on July 22, 2019.

The 24-year-old, of Petts Wood had been “besotted” with the child’s mother Tamika Beaton but struggled to cope, the Old Bailey heard.

Beaton was sentenced to 12 months in custody suspended for 18 months.

Initially, the couple had wrongly blamed Andrew’s injuries on his father Ben Cawker and on the child’s “clumsy” nature.

Following his death, Coombe even claimed he had raised concern with his brother, who was a serving police officer.

Last year, Coombe admitted manslaughter and child cruelty relating to three earlier incidents of assault or mistreatment.

Beaton, 25, from Peckham, was found guilty of child cruelty by wilful neglect following a trial.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “In his short life, Andrew Cawker paid the highest price for the anger of his mother’s boyfriend and her negligence.

"It underlines in the most tragic way the vulnerability of young children who are entirely dependent on those responsible for their safety and wellbeing.

“It is vital that any learnings that come out of the review into the circumstances around Andrew’s death are taken onboard, so everything possible is done to help prevent children suffering abuse.

“We would urge anyone concerned for the safety or wellbeing of a child to speak out and seek support by contacting the NSPCC Helpline or local authorities, or if a young person is in immediate danger, by calling 999.”