Parents jailed over death of 21-month-old Levi-Blu

Danielle Cassin, aged 27, and Mark Piper, 31, were cleared of murdering unloved Levi-Blu Piper and were also found not guilty of his manslaughter. But the pair were convicted of causing or allowing his death. They had denied all charges.

Each blamed the other for the massive abdominal injuries the child suffered before having a cardiac arrest at a flat in Nightingale Avenue, Smiths Wood, in the early hours of February 20 last year.

The child's mother called for an ambulance at 4.54am that day and said he was not breathing.

Little Levi-Blu was taken to Heartlands Hospital but despite the efforts of medics to revive the grievously injured child, he was pronounced dead a short time later. A post mortem examination revealed that the abdominal injuries caused his death.

Birmingham Crown Court heard how Cassin, of Frensham Close, Chelmsley Wood, smoked heroin or crack in front of her son and took him to drug dens for hours at a time.

Piper, of no fixed address, regularly battered the boy and his partner at the flat they shared, it was claimed during the four week trial of the couple.

The mother had been on the books of Solihull Social Services Department since before the birth of her doomed son in 2011 and social workers were regularly in touch with the family during his sad, short life, it was said.

Piper flouted the demands of a child protection agreement meant to protect the little boy with ridiculous ease, the jury head. He was covered up the fact he ignored the ban on him staying at the flat where the child's lifeless body was finally found but hiding behind a mattress when social workers called.

Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement from Levi's grandmother Angela Cassin in which she confessed that she would never know the truth about what happened to him in his final hours. She said the child was 'utterly defenceless' in the hands of his parents. The prosecutor concluded: "There is a great and continuing sense of loss for the little boy."

Cassin, who had no previous convictions had written a letter to the judge in which she alleged she faced a 'lifetime of regret' over the death of her son, the court heard. Piper had convictions for possessing cannabis and cocaine and having a bladed article, the court heard.

Judge Mr Justice Goss said it was most likely that Levi Blu had been punched, kicked, stamped on and possibly hit with a weapon while lying against a hard surface.

The judge said the mother put drugs ahead of her son, while Piper would rather play on his Playstation than care for the boy.

Inspector Bob Sutton, from the West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit, said after the case: "The death of any young child is a tragedy and Levi Blu lived for just 21 months.

"He should have had a full life ahead of him but this was taken away by parents who failed to provide the necessary care or a safe environment, finally subjecting him to a violent attack and ultimately failing to seek medical attention.

"Throughout the investigation and trial they have continued to conceal the truth and evidence gathered over 18 months by a dedicated team of investigators has led to a successful prosecution.

"As parents they were in a unique position of trust and care, they did not meet their responsibilities. There remains great sadness. It is small consolation that justice has now been done in regard to Levi Blu and his parents now face lengthy spells in jail for causing his untimely death."