A former Championship player has been handed a 14-year prison sentence after attacking a two-year-old child that later required extensive medical attention.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason was found to have previously attacked the toddler in Westcliff-on-Sea four-years ago during a horrific period of abuse that was carried out over three months.
The helpless child suffered injuries to her face, chest, back and legs that Hughes-Mason initially tried to claim happened as a result of her falling over onto a playhouse.
Emergency medical treatment later required the youngster to be placed into a coma lasting 14 days and now needs around-the-clock medical care for life-changing brain injuries.
The former footballer previously came through the youth ranks at Arsenal, Tottenham and Milwall before going on to make a handful of senior appearances for the latter. He was on their books after their promotion to the Championship for 2010-11.
A former Championship player has been handed a 14-year prison sentence after attacking a two-year-old child
Hughes-Mason later made two appearances - one in League One and another in League Two - for Milwall's first-team before going on to represent the likes of Grimsby and Kettering amongst others.
The 32-year-old's horrific attacks on his ex-partner's daughter resulted in 17 different injuries that medics claimed showed injuries similar to a 'high-speed road traffic accident' or 'a fall from a substantial height of several storeys.'
He has now been jailed for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty and will serve a sentence lasting 14-years behind bars.
Basildon Crown Court were additionally told that the injured girl can no longer walk, sit or stand by herself and is constantly in pain.
Hughes-Mason was also previously an assistant reserve team coach at Hashtag United, with the club now slamming his crimes as 'frankly sickening'.
A club spokesperson said: 'We can categorically say that the club had no knowledge whatsoever of these events until today.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason was found to have previously attacked the toddler in Westcliff-on-Sea four-years ago
'We are told that the crimes he has now been found guilty of occurred before he joined us.
'Some serious flaws have been exposed in procedures as we'd received confirmation from the relevant authorities that he was clear to coach as part of standard background checks.'
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