A damning report today highlighted failings by agencies involved in the care of toddler, Aaron Gilbert, beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend.

Care agencies criticised over toddler's death - Guardian

Extract:

"A damning report today highlighted failings by agencies involved in the care of a toddler who was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend.

Thirteen-month-old Aaron Gilbert died in May 2005 after suffering eight weeks of abuse at the hands of Andrew Lloyd.

An urgent case review ordered following Aaron's death highlighted the failure of the police, social services and health workers to identify Lloyd as a threat to the public.

Lloyd, 23, had moved into the home of Aaron's mother Rebecca Lewis in Swansea, South Wales, towards the end of Aaron's short life. The couple's trial last year heard how Aaron was violently swung around by his feet by Lloyd, lifted up by his ears, thrown on the floor, bitten and forced to smoke cannabis.

Lloyd admitted Aaron's murder and was jailed for life with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 24 years. Lewis, 21, was handed a six-year sentence after she was found guilty of familial homicide, or allowing the abuse to continue.

The details that emerged during the trial led to an urgent case review by the Swansea safeguarding children board, which revealed how the abuse might have been exposed on a number of occasions.

In one instance, a social worker failed to instigate an immediate child protection inquiry despite being warned that Aaron was suffering bruising. Health professionals had seven separate contacts with Aaron in the weeks before his death, but did not know that Lewis was living with Lloyd."

What a horrifying litany of cruelty and needless suffering inflicted on an innocent little child! - What a shower of highly paid professional ninnies who should not have had responsibility for the welfare of a plastic toy, let alone a vulnerable little toddler. - I suppose it is too much to hope that any of them will be relieved of their highly paid jobs and punished in other ways appropriate for the gravity of the harm caused by their failure to do their jobs properly?