Ex-boyfriend of mum admits murder of three-year-old Dylan Crean

A man was today facing a life sentence for the murder of a "brilliant and beautiful" three-year-old boy.

Peter Gavin Cawser inflicted fatal head injuries on Dylan Crean, the son of his then partner, Katie Crean, in August last year.

Cawser had originally denied murdering the youngster but yesterday, at Leicester Crown Court, admitted the crime. He was due to be sentenced this morning.

After hearing Cawser admit he killed her son, Miss Crean said: "I'm happy he's gone guilty. I can now start to heal."

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Close to tears, Miss Crean described Dylan as "funny, cheeky, brilliant and beautiful" and said: "I love Dylan so much and miss him so terribly every day. My life is so different now, and not a day goes by when I don't think of my boy and his lovely smile.

"If you knew Dylan, you couldn't help but love him.

"No one will ever understand what he (Cawser) 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.

"I'm pleased he has admitted what he's done, and it's stopped me from having to sit through a trial."

Miss Crean also thanked Leicestershire Police, the hospital staff who tried to save Dylan and all those who had shown her their support since the tragedy.

Officers were called by the ambulance service to Miss Crean and Dylan's home, in Edward Street, Albert Village, north west Leicestershire, at 4.55pm on August 30 last year, after a report that a child had sustained life-threatening injuries.

Dylan was taken to Derby Royal Hospital and later moved to Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, where he died the next day.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Hewson, who led the investigation into the tragedy, said after the hearing: "Dylan would have celebrated his fifth birthday yesterday if it were not for the acts of a person who he trusted.

"The fact that Cawser has now pleaded guilty means Dylan's mother does not have to relive the events of that tragic day.

"Our thoughts are with Dylan's mum, whose nightmare started in August and will continue."

At the time, neighbours said Dylan and his mother had moved into the house in Albert Village just days before the youngster's death.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, was due to tell the court the facts of the case today, during the sentencing hearing.

She told Judge Michael Pert QC yesterday it was accepted that assaults by Cawser upon the child were not premeditated, but were "as a sudden loss of control".

In his police interview Cawser had accepted being "annoyed" with Dylan, the court was told.

Miss Howes said Cawser was the subject of a suspended jail sentence at the time and added: "The details may be relevant."

She also said she proposed to play the 999 call made to the emergency services, suggesting there had been a delay.

Judge Pert said: "It wouldn't have affected the outcome."

Cawser, wearing a black tracksuit top and navy tracksuit bottoms in court, rubbed his eyes and appeared to briefly cry during the short hearing.

A video clip of Katie Crean, the mother of Dylan, speaking after her son's killer pleads guilty