A 'sadistic' mum and boyfriend have been jailed for nearly 50 years for killing her nine-year-old son in the bath. Alfie Steele died on February 18, 2021, at his home in Vashon Drive, Droitwich, after being repeatedly beaten with belts and sliders as
well as subjected to extreme punishments for 18 months.
The boy was dunked under cold water in the bath and woken up in the middle of the night to be marched outside and have water thrown at him. Following a six-week trial Dirk Howell, aged 41, from Princip Street, Birmingham was found guilty of murder.
Alfie's mother Carla Scott, aged 35, from Droitwich, was found guilty of manslaughter. Both were also convicted of multiple counts of child cruelty. Today, at Coventry Crown Court Howell was branded a 'bully' as he was sentenced to life with a minimum
term of 32 years.
Scott received a total of 27 years but will serve at least 17 years in jail before release. As she was led out of the dock a member of the public gallery shouted 'evil swine' at her.
Justice Mark Wall stated between July 2019 - when Scott and Howell met - to February 2021 Alfie was subjected to 'repeated acts of violence and cruelty'. He described the act of dunking him underwater as 'dangerous and frightening', particularly given
the fact the boy had asthma.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/carla-scott-boyfriend-dirk-howell-27128305
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