A child killer is reported to have a price on his head after his fellow prisoners found out what he's in for.
Craig Smith, 28, from Birkenhead, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his two-year-old stepson Teddy Tilston. He hit the little boy so hard in the stomach that he caused internal bleeding.
He was found guilty by a jury after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court last week, where he was given a life sentence, with a minimum prison term of 17 years, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Craig Smith was held on remand at HMP Liverpool while on trail for the murder of his stepson. Credit: PA
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The paper has since reported that Smith was the target of other inmates while he was on remand at HMP Liverpool throughout his trial.
His fellow prisoners are reported to have taken things from his cell and there is said to be 'price on his head' after they discovered what his crime was.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice told the Liverpool Echo that it does not comment on individuals.
Credit: Merseyside Police
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It's likely that Smith will be moved to a higher security prison following the outcome of the trial.
Teddy's mum, Ashleigh Willet, 25, was also found guilty of child cruelty towards her son. The court heard she had 'failed to secure medical assistance' despite knowing that he was in pain.
Smith told a 999 call handler that Teddy had 'swallowed water' after slipping under in the bath and was now unresponsive. However, the court heard that the little boy showed no signs of drowning and was 'completely dry' when paramedics arrived at the scene.
HMP Liverpool. Credit: PA
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At a post-mortem it was revealed that Teddy had 42 injuries including a bleed on his brain. Experts told the jury that the fatal injury could only have been caused by a deliberate blow to the stomach, saying it was most likely to be a punch, kick of forceful kneeling.
Smith was also
found found guilty for an assault on another child, who was taken into hospital with
a head injury just hours before Teddy's death.
Willet will be sentenced at a later date.
Source: Liverpool Echo
Featured Image Credit: PA/Merseyside Police