PETER CAWSER SENTENCED FOR LIFE OVER SWADLINCOTE CHILD'S BRUTAL MURDER

In a tragic and heart-wrenching case that has shocked the community of Swadlincote, Peter Gavin Cawser has been convicted of the murder of three-year-old Dylan Crean. The devastating incident occurred in August 2011 at a residence in Albert Village, a locality near Swadlincote, where the young boy suffered fatal injuries that ultimately led to his death.

Peter Cawser, who was 22 years old at the time and formerly residing in Woodville, admitted to inflicting the fatal head injuries on Dylan during a violent assault inside the child's bedroom. The attack was described as both sustained and brutal, with Cawser inflicting more than 70 injuries on the defenseless toddler. The assault was so severe that it left the young boy battered beyond recognition, and it was carried out in front of his mother, Katie.

Leicester Crown Court heard detailed accounts of the attack, revealing that Cawser 'flipped out' in a moment of uncontrollable rage. During the assault, he punched and kicked Dylan repeatedly. As the violence escalated, Cawser also turned his fury towards Dylan’s mother, Katie, who was attempting to shield her son from harm. Midway through the attack, Cawser paused his assault to close the windows of the family home on Edward Street in Albert Village, deliberately muffling the screams of Ms. Crean so that neighbors would not hear her distress.

Following the attack, paramedics responded to the scene and transported Dylan to hospital, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries hours later. The court was told that the injuries Dylan sustained were the result of a deliberate and vicious attack, with Cawser’s actions described as vindictive and driven by uncontrollable rage.

Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced Cawser to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 18 years before he could be considered for parole. During sentencing, the judge emphasized that Dylan’s innocent response of saying 'okay' when told not to be naughty or make a mess was no justification for the violence inflicted upon him. The judge stated, “What happened next was nothing in any part to do with the behaviour of Dylan or the behaviour of his mother. It was the vindictive and uncontrollable rage of an adult man against a three-year-old child. You embarked upon a sustained, brutal attack upon this young child.”

Earlier, Cawser had denied the murder charge but later admitted to the crime during the court proceedings. His plea was seen as a step towards justice for Dylan and his family. The court’s decision to impose a life sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the brutal nature of the attack.

Following the hearing, Dylan’s mother, Katie Crean, expressed her relief and sorrow. She said, “I’m just happy he has pleaded guilty and given us what we want, let me start to heal.” She described her son as “funny, cheeky, crazy, brilliant and beautiful,” and thanked the police, friends, and well-wishers for their unwavering support. “No-one will ever understand what he took from me and I hope no-one else ever has to go through what I have in the past 12 months and will continue to go through for the rest of my life,” she added.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Hewson of Leicestershire Police commented on the case, stating, “Yesterday would have been the fifth birthday of Dylan if it had not been for the act of a person who Dylan had his trust in. This guilty plea means that we can move forward and our thoughts are with Katie who has endured a quite unimaginable last 12 months. She has been immensely brave and hopefully now it does give some closure to some aspects for Katie and will allow her to move forward.”