Alfie Steele verdict: Carla Scott and Dirk Howell are jailed

Earlier this week Dirk Howell, 41, formerly of Broach Road, Stourport, now of Princip Street, Birmingham, was found guilty of murdering the nine-year-old while Alfie's mother Carla Scott, 35, was found guilty of manslaughter.

Appearing in the dock of Courtroom 1 at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday, (June 15), only Scott showed any emotion as they were told their fate.

MURDERED: Alfie Steele (Image: West Mercia Police)

Howell was jailed for life for murder with a minimum term of 32 years.

Scott was jailed for 27 years, serving at least 17.

In his sentencing remarks he called Howell a bully and a cruel man with a fiery, uncontrollable temper.

And he said Scott had chosen Howell over Alfie with "fatal results for her son".

The sentencing brings justice for Alfie who, in his tragically short life, was subjected to months of harrowing abuse at his home in Vashon Drove, Droitwich.

During emotional victim personal statements Paul Scott, Alfie's grandad, had revealed the family had been divided since the death.

He said "I feel like I let Alfie down.

"The family has been divided by the lies and the deceit.

"I'm told Alfie's last words were shouting for me. I saw Alfie's lifeless boy being carried (by helicopter).

"Since then it has felt like a nightmare.

"I can't talk about Alfie because it cuts me up."

Alaina Scott, Alfie's stepnan, said: "Alfie was the life and soul of our family. 

"Our family has been torn apart. 

"The world doesn't feel right without him."

Rachel Brand KC, for Scott, and Alistair Williamson KC, for Howell, argued neither of the defendants had been sadistic in the killing.

But the judge rejected this saying there had been a sadistic nature to Alfie's killing.

The abuse had included dunking him in the bath under cold water; hitting him with belts and making him stand outside the house in the early hours while cold water was poured over him.

The trial had heard Alfie’s body was covered with 50 injuries and only a handful were likely to have been caused by normal childhood bumps and scrapes.

Scott had tried to cover up the death from the moment she made the first 999 call on the day of Alfie's death in February 2021, claiming Alfie had fallen asleep into the bath.

JAILED: Carla Scott (Image: West Mercia Police)

Howell had fled the scene, trying to board a train at Droitwich Railway Station where police caught him.

The pair - who were known to social services and frequently ignored their orders for Howell to stay at the house overnight - have shown no remorse in the two years since Alfie's death.

JAILED: Dirk Howell (Image: West Mercia Police)

Neighbours had tried to raise the alarm. 

In one harrowing recording, by a neighbour, Alfie can be heard banging on a garden gate as he cried and screamed: “let me in.”

Prior to the sentencing Vashon Drive residents told us they were hoping they would "both get life and throw away the key."

A multi-agency review has been launched investigating the boy's death, which is set to report back later this year.