Man who beat to death his girlfriend's five-year-old son for losing a shoe sentenced to life in prison

Witnesses heard a child’s fearful voice saying ‘sorry’, loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe

A man who battered his girlfriend’s five-year-old boy to death in a park for losing one of his shoes has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, flew into a rage and subjected Alex Malcolm to a brutal attack in Mountsfield Park in Catford, south-east London.

He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court by Judge Mark Dennis QC, who said the child killer has a “deeply entrenched character flaw” that leads him to overreact and lose his temper.

Alex’s shoe was later found in the park (Metropolitan Police)

Witnesses heard a child’s fearful voice saying “sorry”, loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe.

Alex suffered fatal head and stomach injuries and died in hospital two days later.

One of his shoes was later found in the play area by police.

Alex’s head, neck, and body were covered with bruises after the attack on 20 November last year.

Marvyn Iheanacho has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years (Metropolitan Police)

Iheanacho, who was in a relationship with Alex’s mother Lilya Breha, carried the unconscious boy to a minicab office and took him to Ms Breha’s flat, while the nearest hospital was just a five-minute walk away.

He then attacked Ms Breha when she tried to call an ambulance, but she managed to grab the phone after noticing her son was getting cold, his face had turned blue and he had stopped breathing.

Doctors at Lewisham Hospital tried to resuscitate Alex, but a CT scan showed he was suffering from severe brain swelling, and he was transferred to King’s College Hospital.

He was pronounced dead on 22 November after an unsuccessful operation.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Iheanacho should have been caring for Alex, but instead he violently robbed him of the chance to live a long and happy life. It is right that he is now behind bars.

“Babies and young children are entirely dependent on those who care for them and we all have a duty to look out for their welfare.”

Iheanacho had a “wholly and unnecessary loss of temper”, Judge Dennis said.

“This injury was caused by you in a fit of anger and frustration – the red mist having come down upon you when you discovered Alex had dropped his shoe somewhere in the now dark park,” he said.

The judge said Iheanacho did nothing to raise the alarm or to get medical help.

He said it is apparent he has a “deeply entrenched character flaw”, adding: “One that leads you to overreact and lose your temper.”

Judge Dennis said that when the violence had subsided, Iheanacho’s thought turned to “protecting yourself and trying to cover up” what had happened.

“Only this time the consequences of your violence were more serious than ever before,” he said.

The judge added: “You used your undoubted strength and simple brute force.”

He said he was a “strong and overpowering figure” next to Alex who was “completely defenceless”, adding: “The child had done nothing that would justify any loss of temper, never mind a violent loss of temper.”

The judge said Iheanacho had given fake and misleading accounts to paramedics, hospital staff and police.

“All this to protect yourself and cover up what you had done,” he said.

The judge said there has been a “disturbing pattern of sudden and violent behaviour” when Iheanacho is frustrated and not getting his own way.

Iheanacho has a string of previous convictions for violent offences, including attacks on ex-partners and robbery.

The judge said: “Sadly the truth appears to be you simply can’t help yourself.”

Iheanacho was sentenced to 18 years but, due to time served on remand, the judge said he would serve at least 17 years and 119 days.

Additional reporting by Press Association