A mother who complained to police 'it's not fair' during a raid on her home after her boyfriend beat her son to death has been sentenced to prison. Zoe Coutts, 35, permitted Scott O'Connor, 36, whom she met on the dating app Bumble, to assault her two-year-old son, Kol Page, resulting in his death.
Details of the Abuse
The court heard that the toddler experienced escalating violence while under the care of Coutts and O'Connor. After a violent attack by O'Connor in April 2022, Kol died two years later due to brain damage and severe injuries from the beating. On Friday, Coutts received a 10-year prison sentence for allowing the death of her child. O'Connor was sentenced to 18 years for manslaughter, with an extended five-year licence period.
Prosecutors at Southwark Crown Court described Kol's injuries as 'catastrophic,' comparable to those seen in serious road traffic accidents or falls from heights. After meeting O'Connor on a dating app in autumn 2021, Coutts, from Kent, and her boyfriend were accused of inflicting severe harm and fabricating a 'tissue of lies' to evade responsibility, even blaming the toddler's 'clumsiness' for his injuries.
Police Bodycam Footage
Police-released footage shows Coutts wailing to officers as paramedics arrived, crying, 'It's not fair.' The judge noted that Coutts, who wept during sentencing, did not directly inflict the violence but 'failed to take steps to protect him from your partner despite the obvious signs.'
The judge stated: 'You must have known that the injuries were inflicted by Scott O'Connor. Instead of protecting Kol from O'Connor, you continued to live with him. Instead of taking Kol to receive the medical attention that he so obviously needed, you went to watch a football match with Scott O'Connor.' The judge added, 'Each of you continues to deny responsibility, each blames the other. Neither of you has shown any remorse.'
Evidence Presented in Court
Kol suffered escalating bruising, and on April 9, 2022, was photographed with two black eyes. Medical experts testified that the bruising likely resulted from two punches. Prosecutor Ed Vickers KC stated that the couple attended a football match instead of seeking medical help for the bruised toddler. Text messages between the couple were shown to jurors, including an exchange on April 20, 2022, where Coutts messaged that Kol was 'whinging,' and O'Connor replied, 'Jesus slap him back to sleep lol.'
Emergency services were called on April 25, 2022, and Kol was taken to hospital, where surgery revealed three injuries to his small bowel. Prosecutors said these were caused by significant force to the abdomen from a punch, kick, or stamp. Kol suffered internal bleeding, leading to cardiac arrest and severe brain damage. His injuries were so severe that doctors could not administer sufficient pain relief without risking his death. He died just over two years later while under foster care.
Victim Impact Statements
In a victim impact statement, Kol's foster parents described how they initially moved into the hospital to care for him. His foster mother said he was 'in so much pain' and she 'stayed up night after night caring for him.' Charles Langley KC, mitigating for Coutts, argued that O'Connor 'caused all the injuries to Kol.' Michael Turner KC, mitigating for O'Connor, claimed a 'momentary loss of control' with no intent to kill.
The jury cleared the couple of murder but convicted Coutts of causing or allowing the death of a child, and O'Connor of manslaughter. The Honourable Mr Justice Johnson stated that O'Connor carried out a 'deliberate intentional assault' on an 'innocent and defenceless two-year-old boy.' Sentencing O'Connor, the judge said: 'You struck a two-year-old child with sufficient force to tear internal tissues and cause catastrophic bleeding. You have shown no remorse, no insight and no acceptance of responsibility.' As he was led away, O'Connor shouted, 'For something I didn't f****** do mate.'
Reactions from Authorities
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: 'Kol was an innocent little boy who suffered horrific abuse in the place where he should have been safest – at home with his mother. Coutts and her boyfriend tried to deceive paramedics, doctors and police officers, repeating lie after lie about how Kol came to be so seriously injured.' Richard Murrison of the Crown Prosecution Service added: 'Kol was a little boy who deserved to be safe, loved, and protected. That he was so catastrophically failed by the very people who should have cared for him most is something that will stay with everyone involved in this case.'
An NSPCC spokesperson described it as a 'heartbreaking case' and said: 'Kol was subjected to sustained violence that caused catastrophic injuries and ultimately led to his death. Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to abuse because they are completely reliant on the adults around them for care and protection. We all have a part to play in keeping children safe.' The jury deliberated for 10 hours and 45 minutes before reaching their verdicts.
