Lola James' stepfather jailed for life for murdering the toddler

A killer boyfriend who battered his partner's toddler to death has been sentenced to life in prison for the horrific murder.

Kyle Bevan launched a frenzied and brutal attack on defenceless two-year-old Lola James at her home in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, reports WalesOnline. During the attack he left the little girl with the kind of injuries usually found in car crash victims. He had only been in a relationship with her mum, Sinead James, a few months after adding her on Facebook before moving in with her in early 2020 as the country went into lockdown.

After raining down blows on Lola in the attack in the middle of July 2020 he began searching for information on the internet about head injuries before taking photos and a video of her limp body in a sickening plot to try and cover his tracks. He instead, messaged his mother – a healthcare worker – who then raised the alarm. You can hear the call that she made here.

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Police later found that the toddler appeared to have been washed, with temporary tattoos she had on her arm scrubbed off, and her hair was soaking wet. A frozen hoody of hers, which was stained with vomit, was then hidden in a cupboard.

And while the rest of the family home was an absolute state the bathroom was suspiciously clean. You can read about this and see photos of the inside of the house here.

As Lola was rushed to hospital Bevan then concocted a story about how the toddler had been knocked down the stairs by the family dog – despite there being a baby gate on her room – as her mother slept. Drug user Bevan claimed he was innocent but refused to give evidence during his trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Jurors found him guilty of