THE FAMILY of a child attacked by former footballer Kiernan Hughes-Mason have said their child remains “strong willed, smiling, and curious” despite having her future taken away from her. 

Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 32, from Westcliff has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm and child cruelty to a two-year-old girl in an incident on January 31, 2020.

Hughes-Mason, who has previously been employed as a player and reserve-team manager at the football club Hashtag United, was sentenced by Judge Graham who said the vigorous shaking, and bashing against a hard surface, was a “vicious assault”.

During a victim impact statement, the victim’s mother said the incident was the “worst day of my life” with her being told in a side room in hospital that her “baby girl” might not make it through the night and if she lived, she would be severely disabled for life.

The victim was then at Great Ormond Street hospital for three months before a short stay in an Essex rehabilitation centre for brain injuries, finally being discharged in June 2021.

The victim, who is now seven, can only put three or four words together with speech therapists saying her mental age is only three.

While private physio therapy is needed several times a week to increase the girl's strength and comfort, but she will never be able to walk or use or lower body.

Surgery is also needed later in life for the an associated hip problem as a result of the violent assault. 

Various medications for epilepsy, sleeping, and physical disabilities are needed meaning the victim’s older sibling, who is now a teenager, has become a caretaker.

Only a few family members can administer all the medications and other techniques needed for the victim who needs constant reassurance and distraction to feel secure and safe. 

The victim “loves to be around people but struggles in large groups” but continues to bring joy to her parents and staff at her specialist school by being "strong-willed, smiling, and curious."

The mother had to change homes due to disability provisions, and said she can barely lift the wheelchair and her daughter together now, worrying how she will cope in the future as her daughter is still “rapidly growing”.

The mother also said that daughter's last birthday, “as much as she wanted to or tried, she could not blow out her own candles” with only a few family members being present so not to cause distress or trigger seizures. 

The mother said “He took her future away from her - the life that was meant for her.”

She concluded: “Whatever sentencing he has received will be nothing compared to the life sentence my [daughter] has.”

“She is a fighter, she is a survivor.”

The victim’s father said that there was “no closure on this and it continues to impact us all”.

“While we mourn, [our daughter] is still alive”.

While the victim’s grandmother said her most important role was now supporting her daughter with cooking, cleaning, and other tasks for the victim which only a few can do, as well as supporting her daughter’s mental health.

The grandmother added: “He didn’t just hurt [her], he inflicted mental torture on the family too.

“Time does not heal all wounds.”