In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that then 26-year-old Stephen Waterson was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for the “manipulative” killing of a three-year-old boy. Appearing at the Old Bailey in London, the defendant—the son of former Eastbourne MP and government minister Nigel Waterson—admitted to manslaughter by gross negligence. It was reported that Waterson crushed young Alfie Lamb to death by reversing an electronic car seat in his Audi convertible during a journey in February 2018.
The investigation established that Waterson moved his seat back twice into the footwell where Alfie was sitting at his mother’s feet, reducing the space to just 3.7in (9.5cm). Metropolitan Police reported that Waterson was “arrogant, selfish, and deeply unpleasant,” and had told the crying child, “I won’t be told what to do by a three-year-old.” The prosecution reported that Alfie, nicknamed “Little Tarzan,” suffered crush asphyxiation—the first recorded death of its kind in the UK involving an electronic car seat—and died three days later.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Waterson embarked on a “cunning” conspiracy to pervert the course of justice immediately after the child collapsed. The Old Bailey heard that he fled the scene, sold the car, and threatened witnesses—including his girlfriend and Alfie’s mother, Adrian Hoare—to make them “disappear” if they told the truth. The investigation established that Waterson even filmed himself assaulting a witness in Crystal Palace Park, placing his foot on the man’s head for being a “grass.”
Mr Justice Kerr described Waterson as “controlling and threatening,” though he accepted character references stating the defendant was “not all bad.” For his actions in London and Croydon, Waterson was handed five years and six months for manslaughter, with a further two years for intimidation. The judge noted that while Waterson may not have been “deliberately malevolent,” his thoughtless and selfish behaviour, followed by a web of lies, caused “profound” effect and health issues for the grieving family.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Stephen Waterson as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 7 years and 6 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Co-Defendant: Adrian Hoare (Jailed for 2 years and 9 months for child cruelty).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the Old Bailey following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Manslaughter by gross negligence; Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice; Intimidation.
- Origin: Eastbourne, East Sussex (Waterson’s family origin); Gravesend, Kent (Hoare’s residence).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Waterson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the prison estate and his home area of East Sussex. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved “vicious” threats against witnesses and the “manipulative” coercion of his partner, his management is a priority. Authorities state that his history of violent temper and previous convictions for attacking an ex-girlfriend and family members requires the most intensive supervision by the Public Protection Unit upon any future release.
As a convicted killer, Waterson’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour in Croydon and Sutton demonstrated a total lack of regard for the safety of a vulnerable child. Any future attempt to contact the witnesses he intimidated, or any reports of domestic instability, will result in immediate intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed “controlling” offender.
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