BREAKING: Former Hashtag United Player Kiernan Hughes-Mason Convicted of Grievous Bodily Harm and Child Cruelty
Former professional footballer Kiernan Hughes-Mason has been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and child cruelty in a shocking turn of events. The 32-year-old, who played for clubs including Arsenal and Millwall, was convicted by a jury after a three-week trial at Basildon Crown Court.
Hughes-Mason was accused of attacking a two-year-old girl in January 2020, leaving her with life-changing brain injuries and 17 different injuries to her legs, back, face, and chest. Doctors described the injuries as similar to those inflicted by a high-speed road traffic accident or a fall from a substantial height.
During the trial, it was revealed that Hughes-Mason had sent messages to others in which he expressed his anger at looking after the young girl. One message read: "I’m gonna hit her." The former footballer had initially claimed that the girl had fallen, but investigators found evidence of a violent assault.
In a statement, Detective Sergeant Ellie Nudd, of Essex Police’s child abuse investigation team, said: "This conviction is important. Hughes-Mason denied responsibility for all the child’s injuries, pointing the finger at others or blaming them on accidents. This little girl will never recover from the injuries she sustained from this violent attack. The doctors were clear about the extent of the injuries – they were equivalent to a high-speed crash, and would have to be the result of a violent assault."
Hashtag United’s Response
Following the guilty verdict, Hashtag United released a statement confirming that they had no knowledge of any proceedings involving the player while he was at the club. Hughes-Mason left Hashtag United in 2022, and the club stated that they had no knowledge of the crimes until the conviction.
"Our club has an absolute zero tolerance policy on behaviour even closely relating to this," the statement read. "Our values are centred around positivity, inclusivity, and above all else, creating a safe place for all."
Eastern Counties League Side Enfield Town Sack Hughes-Mason
Following the conviction, Eastern Counties League Division One South side Enfield Town announced that they had sacked Hughes-Mason with immediate effect.
Support and Advice
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, there are a number of helplines available to support you. Childline offer a free-to-call helpline on 0800 1111, while you can also start a 1-2-1 with a counsellor via their official website. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, meanwhile, can be called on 0808 2000 247.
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