The killer of a three-year-old Wolverhampton boy this afternoon failed in a Court of Appeal attempt to overturn his murder conviction.

Ryan Lovell-Hancox had more than 70 injuries when he died on Christmas Eve 2008 from a brain injury he suffered at the home of killer couple, Christopher Taylor, aged 26, and Kayley Boleyn.

The couple, of Slim Avenue, Bradley, were jailed for life after being found guilty last March of murder and child cruelty at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Taylor was ordered to spend at least 15 years behind bars.

Today his lawyers lost a bid to overturn his convictions. They argued the jury should not have been told of “highly prejudicial” evidence about previous heroin use by Taylor. But Lord

Justice Pill, sitting with Mr Justice Owen and Judge Andrew Patience QC, said the appeal had “no merit”.

Ryan’s mother Amy Hancox, 21, had paid her 19-year-old cousin Boleyn around £20 a week to look after the tragic child as she was struggling to cope.

Boleyn and Taylor beat, slapped and shouted at the child so loudly he wet himself. The jury heard he was also made to lick soup from the floor and shut in a “naughty” cupboard.

Boleyn was jailed for a minimum of 13 years for her role in the boy’s murder.