A police force that repeatedly met the family of a nine-year-old boy who was later murdered in his home did not sufficiently ...

Carla Scott, 35, and fiancé Dirk Howell, 41, are accused of murdering Alfie Steele at their home in Worcestershire after subjecting him to a 'cruel and sinister' regime of punishment.

The boy’s mother, Carla Scott, was jailed for 27 years for manslaughter at Coventry Crown Court in June 2023 and her partner, Dirk Howell, is serving at least 32 years for his murder.

Dirk Howell, aged 41, murdered nine-year-old Alfie Steele at a home in Droitwich in February 2021. His girlfriend - the boy's mum - Carla Scott, 35, was convicted of manslaughter ...

Dirk Howell (pictured), 41, has gone on trial alongside his partner Carla Scott, 35, accused of killing Alfie Steele in Droitwich, Worcestershire, in February 2021.

Howell, who the prosecution said had stayed overnight at the address, was in fact seen by a police officer “by chance” in a nearby street at 2.30pm, just six minutes after Scott’s 999 call.

Carla Scott, 35, and fiancé Dirk Howell, 41, are accused of murdering nine-year-old son Alfie Steele after subjecting him to a 'cruel and sinister' regime of punishment ...

Dirk Howell also said he left Alfie's home in Vashon Drive, Droitwich, before paramedics arrived as he "didn't want to be around." Howell, 41, and his fiancee Carla Scott, 35, are both accused of ...

Now, a court has heard that the youngster was subject to months of sick cruelty and a “sinister” regime of punishment at the hands of his mum Carla Scott, 35, and her fiancé Dirk Howell, 41.

A nine-year-old boy died after being “repeatedly assaulted, beaten” and “held” in a cold bath as punishment by his mother and her fiance, a court has heard. Alfie Steele, who was covered ...