Alfie Steele: How events before his death unfolded

Alfie Steele was subjected to "sadistic" abuse, the trial judge said, and had more than 50 injuries on his body at the time of his death

Alfie Steele was killed by his mother and her partner at their home in Droitwich in 2021.

A timeline showing a series of concerns by neighbours, teachers and social workers has been put together.

The nine-year-old had been subjected to months of abuse before he was held under water and died.

Dirk Howell was sentenced to at least 32 years in prison for murder, while Alfie's mother Carla Scott was jailed for manslaughter.

A safeguarding report published on Friday highlighted a catalogue of missed opportunities by professionals.

These are some of the key dates:

• 2018 - Scott and Alfie move to Worcestershire. Alfie was subject to a child protection plan for neglect and he and his mother were homeless

• August 2019 - Howell meets Scott. There are concerns from family and neighbours about Howell's criminal history, his aggression, shouting at Alfie and cannabis use. A previous history of violence towards others was disclosed but there was no record of Howell connected to domestic abuse

• September 2019 - Howell's long criminal history, marker for violence and drug dealing is discussed in a strategy meeting. At the time Howell was under investigation for a burglary of an elderly man where firearms were stolen. Scott, however, said she did not believe he posed a risk to her or Alfie

• October 2019 - Child protection and safety plan agreed

• November 2019 -Neighbours share concerns Howell is behaving cruelly to Alfie. Howell found to be in the home by the police. Howell threatened neighbours with violence

• February 2020 - Neighbours raise concerns about anti-social behaviour by Scott and Howell in the form of parties and loud music and Howell's aggressiveness in response to complaints. Alfie reported to be hungry in school

• March 2020 - Scott physically abusive to Alfie and there is evidence of Howell being drunk and aggressive to Alfie in the community

• March 2020 - Covid pandemic and first lockdown. Changes to operating procedures for all agencies. Schools remain open to support vulnerable children, but Scott does not allow Alfie to attend

• April 2020 - Further concerns from neighbours about Alfie, and Howell seen behaving inappropriately and aggressively to him

• April 2020 - Alfie's head teacher raises concerns about the lack of progress of the child protection plan and increased risks to his welfare. Informed that a Legal Planning Meeting would be convened

• May 2020 -Legal Planning Meeting held, at which it was decided a risk assessment would be completed for Howell. Parenting assessment to be made for Scott and Alfie's father

Scott had Alfie during a previous relationship which ended in 2017, in which children's services also had involvement

• June 2020 - Howell caught shoplifting on two occasions. On the second he punched a female shop assistant in the face. He was arrested and would be charged later

• July 2020 - At a meeting it was agreed the threshold for care proceedings was not met. A child protection plan would continue, but Howell was now allowed to be in the home and required to engage with child protection plan, and attend meetings including a parenting course, and anger management support

• July 2020 - A Child Protection Conference review was rescheduled to October 2020 due to the local authority Covid arrangements, which meant no children were removed from child protection plans during this period

• August 2020 - Neighbour shares concern with police that they can hear a child being harmed. This was responded to and denied by Scott. Howell not seen at the home, but he subsequently threatens to burn neighbour's home down for sharing concerns

• September 2020 - Alfie returns to school. Concerns about him being hungry and unkempt

• October 2020 - Howell was convicted of physically assaulting a train guard. Two further offences were being investigated: a burglary and the assault of a shop assistant

• November 2020 - Alfie's school was worried about him. He looked unkempt, had a nasty ear infection and seemed unsettled. Those fears were discussed with the lead social worker. Uncorroborated information suggested Scott and Howell might be dealing drugs from the home

• January 2021 - Change of social worker. The child protection plan is reviewed. Neighbours are contacted who were part of the plan and they expressed concerns. The maternal grandparents meanwhile said they were unaware of the child protection plan. Howell found in Scott's bedroom, having said he was not in the home. Scott asks for a different social worker

• February 2021 - Alfie was murdered

Andrew Richards's house overlooked Alfie's garden. He phoned Worcestershire social services to report the nine-year-old was being abused.

Andrew Richards said he was still affected by Alfie's death

"I saw him mopping floors at about quarter to five in the morning. That's awful. He was a little boy, he had to get up for school."

Mr Richards gave evidence at the court case and told the jury how Alfie was locked outside in the garden wearing just his underwear.

"The door was locked and Alfie was just stood there with his arms crossed. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing," he said.

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