LEWIS PRINCE'S HORRIFIC ATTACK ON TODDLER IN BLACKPOOL LEADS TO 30-YEAR SENTENCE
In August 2023, a disturbing incident unfolded in Blackpool that shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation.A man named Lewis Prince, aged 29, was found guilty of attempting to murder a two-year-old child during a brutal assault in his care.
The horrifying events were captured on a baby monitor, which played a crucial role in exposing the attack and securing justice.
According to reports, Prince was entrusted with looking after the young child at the family’s residence in Blackpool.
On that particular morning, as the child’s mother left the home, she routinely checked her baby monitor app on her phone.
It was during this routine check that she witnessed the horrifying scene unfold in real-time.
She saw Prince launching a violent assault on her toddler, which included punching, slapping, and strangulation attempts.
The footage revealed Prince grabbing the child's neck, pinning them down forcefully, and repeatedly throwing the child to the ground in an apparent attempt to subdue or harm them.
The recordings, each lasting only six seconds, were played during the trial and depicted Prince’s violent actions vividly.
At one point, he was seen standing on the child to keep them pinned to the floor.
During the struggle, Prince, who is also a father of two, left the room momentarily to retrieve an ice pack.
He returned with a bag of frozen peas, which he pressed onto the child's face, further distressing the young victim.
The entire assault was characterized by its brutality and lack of concern for the child's well-being.
When the child's mother returned home and saw the distress and injuries, she rushed upstairs and pushed past Prince to reach her child.
In a desperate attempt to conceal his wrongdoing, Prince reportedly pinned her down, grabbed her arm, and tried to prevent her from calling emergency services.
He demanded to see bruises, claiming he had not hurt the child, despite the evidence of injuries.
The mother managed to escape and ran to neighbors to call 999, refusing Prince’s pleas to accompany her.
Meanwhile, Prince drove away alone but was apprehended by police before reaching his home.
The injured toddler was immediately taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for treatment.
Medical professionals, including a paramedic who attended the scene, reported seeing bruises on the child that resembled those typically seen after a boxing match.
The paramedic remarked, “that’s the only time I’ve seen any bruising like that,” emphasizing the severity of the injuries.
Fortunately, the child has since made a full recovery.
During the trial, the court heard detailed evidence of the attack, including the footage and medical reports.
Prosecutor Alex Langhorn highlighted the brutality of the assault, which left visible bruising and trauma.
The judge, Robert Altham, expressed strong condemnation of Prince’s actions.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Altham noted that Prince’s conduct was “clearly not done out of concern but to cover up what he had done.” In the aftermath, Prince denied intentionally harming the child, claiming instead that he had assaulted the toddler but did not intend to kill them.
He also attempted to justify his actions by demanding to see bruises, which was dismissed by the court.
The judge, however, found his explanations unconvincing and deemed him a dangerous offender.
While he did not impose a whole life sentence, Judge Altham sentenced Prince to 30 years in prison, consisting of a 26-year custodial period and a four-year extended license.
Prince will only be eligible for parole after serving at least 20 years.
Furthermore, a restraining order was issued to prevent Prince from having any contact with the child indefinitely.
However, no restraining order was placed concerning the mother.
The court’s decision underscores the severity of the crime and the need to protect the victim from further harm, reflecting the gravity of the assault committed in Blackpool.
