A couple who murdered their two-year-old grandson have been jailed for life with minimum terms of 23 years and 17 years respectively, after the toddler was found dangerously dehydrated, severely underweight and with 40 visible bruises when he collapsed with a catastrophic head injury.
Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, were found guilty of murder and cruelty to a child in July after a trial at Mold Crown Court that exposed harrowing details of sustained abuse against Ethan Ives-Griffiths at their Flintshire home in August 2021.
Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, who had been staying with her son at her parents’ home, was found guilty of causing or allowing his death and child cruelty. She received a 12-year sentence.
The Fatal Attack
Ethan collapsed with a catastrophic head injury at his grandparents’ home in Garden City on 14 August 2021, dying two days later at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. At the time of his death, the toddler weighed just 10kg and was so severely dehydrated that experts said he would have died within days even without the fatal head injury.
The court heard Ethan was made to stand with his hands on his head as a punishment when he misbehaved. The fatal head injury was said to have been caused by deliberate force or shaking, and occurred at the time, or in the minutes before, he collapsed whilst the grandparents watched television.
CCTV Evidence Reveals Abuse
CCTV shown during the trial revealed shocking treatment of the toddler. Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC described footage showing Michael Ives carrying his grandson by the top of his arm “as though Ethan was just a bag of rubbish to be slung out”.
The video, taken from the back garden of the family’s four-bedroom home, showed Ethan appearing unsteady on a trampoline, or lying down, while other children bounced. Michael Ives was seen to point a garden hose at him, placed the toddler’s hands on his head, and gestured to another child to punch him.
After watching the video in court, Michael Ives said he felt “ashamed” and admitted being cruel and neglectful but denied mistreating Ethan in other ways.
Family Blame Game
During the trial, the family members blamed each other for Ethan’s treatment. Michael Ives said his daughter was “quick-tempered” and would slap Ethan a couple of times a day, whilst Shannon Ives claimed her parents were “horrible” and abused her as a child.
Michael and Kerry Ives, originally from Wolverhampton, were in the living room with Ethan at the time of his collapse while his mother was on the phone upstairs. The pair told the jury “nothing” had happened to the toddler before he fainted as they watched television.
Kerry Ives said she immediately called her daughter to come downstairs, but the court heard it was 18 minutes before she called emergency services.
Medical Evidence
Ethan was found to have abdominal injuries likely to have been caused by blows in the days before his collapse, as well as bruises consistent with grip marks on his leg and face. Experts said the youngster would have died of dehydration within days had he not suffered the head injury.
The court heard Ethan had been placed on the child protection register, requiring him to be seen every 10 days. But when Shannon Ives last saw her social worker on 5 August 2021, she spoke to him on the doorstep and told him Ethan was having a nap.
No one answered the door when social worker Michael Cornish went to visit in the days before Ethan’s death and a scheduled appointment with a health visitor on 13 August was cancelled.
Judge’s Sentencing Remarks
Judge Mr Justice Griffiths, passing sentence, told the pair they had committed “terrible crimes against your own flesh and blood”.
He said Ethan, although only two, was a “brave and resilient boy with a strong character”.
“His mother and his grandparents hit him, but when they did, he was defiant and even laughed,” the judge said. “He already had qualities which in an adult could make for greatness.
“But the people hitting him didn’t like the little boy standing up for himself. They decided to break him.
“After a horrifying escalation of cruelty and violence over a couple of months, he was murdered. All the hopes and promise of the life he should have had were taken from him.”
Father’s Statement
Following the verdicts, Ethan’s father Will Griffiths said his son would be “remembered for the smiley, outgoing, loving child that he was”.
“He can now rest in peace, knowing that justice has been served,” he added.
Police Response
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said: “Michael, Kerry and Shannon Ives held positions of responsibility and should have shown Ethan love, care and protection.
“Instead, Michael caused distress, pain and misery to his grandson before brutally taking his life nearly four years ago in August 2021.
“Kerry and Shannon both watched and took no action as the abuse unfolded in the home they all shared. Their behaviour was beyond comprehension, and it is impossible to imagine the terror a two-year-old would feel in suffering the horrific injuries he endured – inflicted upon him by those regarded as his closest family.”
A Flintshire County Council spokeswoman said the council would be cooperating with an independent child practice review by the North Wales Safeguarding Board, who are leading a multi-agency review of the case.
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