Couple who murdered toddler grandson jailed for life

Grandparents who murdered their two-year-old grandson had a "campaign to break" him and did not like it when he stood up for himself, a judge has said as he jailed them for life.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths died on 16 August 2021 after suffering a "catastrophic" head injury at his grandparents' home in Garden City, Flintshire.

Sentencing Ethan's grandfather, Michael Ives, 48, and grandmother, Kerry Ives, 46, at Mold Crown Court, Mr Justice Griffiths handed them minimum terms of 23 years and 17 years respectively. Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was jailed 12 years for allowing Ethan's death.

The boy's father, Will Griffiths, said he still felt "dazed" by his son's loss.

Warning: This article contains details of violence and abuse that some may find distressing

Addressing the grandparents and mother as he sentenced them, the judge described Ethan as a "two-year-old with an independent spirit".

"He was brave and resilient with a strong character," Mr Justice Griffiths said, adding that "the people hitting him didn't like the little boy standing up for himself".

Michael Ives struck the fatal blow while his wife Kerry Ives smiled, the judge told their sentencing hearing

The judge said Ethan's grandparents had a "campaign to break him", with text messages from Michael Ives stating Ethan would have to "learn the hard way".

"Ethan was being beaten, he was being starved, and he was being deprived of fluids," the judge told the court.

The toddler was "a shadow of the chubby healthy child he had been" in the days before he fatally collapsed, Mr Justice Griffiths said.

"The violence was getting worse, more frequent and harsh," he said.

Describing the fatal attack, the judge said: "Michael did it. Kerry was sat next to him on the sofa. She was the partner in this crime. Although it was Michael who struck the blow, she smiled.

"It was an act that would horrify any independent bystander."

Earlier, Shannon Ives appeared to have tears in her eyes as her former partner described in his emotional victim impact statement to the court the pain he had been through after the death of their child.

Kerry Ives bowed her head, while Michael Ives remained sitting with his arms folded, watching Mr Griffiths give his statement, in which he said: "What happened to Ethan has changed everything in my life.

Shannon Ives "wanted Ethan to be broken too," said Mr Justice Griffiths, alluding to her own childhood

"At times I don't feel like that it's real that Ethan is no longer with us and I often find myself thinking I can hear his affectionate laugh, and it reminds me what a beautiful son he was and how lucky I was to be his dad."

Mr Griffiths said he felt he could finally grieve, knowing those responsible would be held accountable.

He added: "Ethan will never be forgotten and will always live on in our hearts and I have come to accept that the cherished memories that I do have now give me comfort rather than pain and grief."

"I keep thinking that Ethan should have been in a safe environment but ended up being abused in the most devastating way," Mr Griffiths continued.

"Ethan deserves to know that the world sees what happened to him," he added.

"That he mattered.

"And that he is a voice and will never be forgotten."

He concluded by saying his son "was a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin and was a huge part of our family".

"His memory will always be a blessing to know that he was loved by us and will never be forgotten. He will continue to live on in me forever."

Ethan's father, Will Griffiths says his son "will always live on in our hearts and memories"

Prosecutor Caroline Rees told the sentencing hearing Ethan was in a home that was controlled through "violence and fear".

She said medical evidence showed the toddler had sustained previous injuries while at the Kingsley Road home of his grandparents before his fatal injury.

"The final days of Ethan's life would have been thoroughly miserable," says Ms Rees.

She said the bullying and harassment of the child was captured on CCTV in the garden and front of the house, where he was seen being dragged by one arm by Michael Ives.

"We cannot say what happened behind closed doors," she added.

Both Michael and Kerry Ives remained impassive as the prosecutor reminded the court of how they made their own grandson suffer.

Michael Ives leaned forward as the court was reminded of the way he physically abused Ethan.

Kerry Ives stared straight ahead as the court heard how she did absolutely nothing to intervene.

Shannon Ives closed her eyes throughout.

In mitigation, barrister Owen Edwards, for Ethan's grandmother, argued her role in the murder was "secondary" but added there were "no excuses for her acts of failure".

Michael Ives' barrister, David Elias, said there was evidence the grandfather had been "struggling with his mental health at the time of the offences", and "it might explain - or go some way to explain - why these offences were committed".

Gordon Cole, acting on behalf of Shannon Ives, described her as someone "who has difficulty with cognitive ability" and "suffers from anxiety, depression".

During sentencing, Mr Justice Griffiths said Shannon Ives knew her parents were physically capable of abusing children, "because that was her experience growing up".

"Shannon knew Ethan was not safe with her parents," he said.

The judge also said Michael Ives was responsible for the worst violence against Ethan, but Kerry Ives was also seen hitting the child.

The judge also jailed Michael Ives for nine years for child cruelty, to be served concurrently to his 23-year term.

Kerry Ives was also sentenced to six years for child cruelty, to run concurrently to her 17-year term.

Shannon Ives was also handed a five-year sentence for child cruelty to run concurrently to her 12-year term. She was told she will serve two thirds of the longer sentence in prison, before being released on licence.

A child practice review is now set to take place to allow the authorities to learn from what happened to Ethan.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We have today announced a review of safeguarding arrangements, to ensure our systems remain effective, responsive, and focused on achieving the best outcomes."

Additional reporting by Holly Harrison and Oliver Slow, BBC Wales