Michael Wild: Man jailed for life after punching toddler to death

‘They betrayed me and worst of all they betrayed Ella in the worst possible way,’ says mother of toddler abused by carer's boyfriend

Michael Wild, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, has been jailed for life and will serve at least 20 years for the murder of 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover on 21 January 2018. (Metropolitan Police/PA/family handout)

A man who murdered a toddler by repeatedly punching her has been jailed for life.

Ella-Rose Clover was just 22 months old when she died from abdominal injuries last year.

Michael Wild, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, denied murder but was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court following an eight-week trial.

He was sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 20 years for the death of Ella-Rose.

The court heard that Wild had assaulted the toddler on previous occasions when she was left in the care of him and his partner, Sharleen Hughes.

On 21 January last year, he was left alone with Ella-Rose while Hughes ran errands and when she returned at about 1.30pm the toddler was collapsed on the sofa.

The youngster was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital but died from abdominal injuries.

In a statement read out to the court, Ella-Rose’s mother Pagan Clover, 26, said Hughes, who was Ella-Rose’s godmother, had become a paid carer for her daughter while she was at work.

The single mother, who has an older daughter, Freyah, and now a baby son, Harry, said in the months leading up to Ella-Rose’s death the toddler was taken to hospital with unexplained bruising.

Sharlene Hughes is due to be sentenced for causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice after the death of 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover. (Greater Manchester Police)

She said: “Sharleen came with me to some of the hospital and doctors’ appointments, Mick even came along and saw me begging for answers from the hospital staff.

“All along he knew what was going on and it sickens me now to think that he sat there watching me and seeing Ella suffer.

“Sharleen, my cousin, my confidant and my friend who I trusted implicitly and who Ella loved, and Mick, her boyfriend, who always seemed so nice and kind – they betrayed me and worst of all they betrayed Ella in the worst possible way.”

Icah Peart QC, defending, said Wild was of previous good character and had been suffering from anxiety and depression.

He said the defendant had shown remorse after Ella Rose’s death, but judge Mr Justice King said he did not accept that.

Sentencing Wild, the judge said: “This killing was the culmination of a course of conduct on your part going back many months.”

He said he had no doubt the toddler died after Wild repeatedly punched her, causing internal injuries to her abdomen.

He added: “The likelihood is you lost your temper with the child when she, in your sole care, required her nappy being changed on more than one occasion over that period.”

Wild showed no reaction in the dock while Ms Clover, who was in court with about a dozen family members, walked out after the sentence was passed.

Hughes, 36, was found guilty of causing the death of a child and two counts of perverting the course of justice and is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.