In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Ryan Coleman, then 23, of no fixed abode, was convicted of the horrific and violent murder of one-year-old Evelyn. Following a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Coleman was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. The court heard that Evelyn had been subjected to a sickening and deliberate assault at a property in Regent Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire, on April 26, 2018. Medical experts described the injuries as some of the worst they had ever seen, consistent with a high-speed car crash.
The prosecution detailed how Ryan Coleman inflicted catastrophic damage on the defenceless toddler, including 31 external injuries, bleeding on the brain and spine, and damage to both of her eyes. Despite the vile nature of his actions, Coleman failed to call 999, instead waiting for Evelyn’s mother to return from work to summon help. During the trial, Coleman showed a total lack of remorse, frequently storming out of the courtroom and even attempting to shift the blame onto the grieving mother by claiming she had caused the injuries while trying to resuscitate the child.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Stuart Hitchon stated that Ryan Coleman not only murdered a baby but also forced the family to relive the trauma through a painful trial. Judge Mrs Justice Sara Cockerill DBE described Coleman’s behaviour as “cowardly” and his defence as “utterly lacking in credibility.” The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, reached its unanimous verdict in just over four hours, ensuring that the violent predator would remain behind bars for a significant duration.
As a result of his conviction for the murder of a child, Ryan Coleman will be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Northamptonshire Police for the duration of his life. Even after serving his minimum term of 17 years, he will only be released if the Parole Board deems him no longer a threat to the public. Upon any eventual release, he will remain under supervision for the rest of his life, and any breach of his strict license conditions in Kettering or elsewhere in the UK will result in his immediate recall to prison.
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