Crime

A FORMER Championship player has been jailed after he left a two-year-old girl needing round-the-clock care in a brutal attack.Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 32, caused the toddler to suffer 17 different injuries to her face, chest, back and legs in a three-month period.Kiernan Hughes-Mason left a two-year-old with horror injuriesThe ex-footballer has now been jailed for 14 yearsCredit: AlamyThe ex-footballer, who played for Arsenal and Spurs’ youth team before a stint at Millwall, claimed she had fallen on her dollhouse.But medics found the youngster had injuries that were likened to a “high-speed road traffic accident” or a “fall from a substantial height of several storeys”.She was placed in a coma for 14 days and suffered life-changing brain injuries that require 24 hour care.Hughes-Mason, who also played on loan for Cheltenham Town, has been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty.In a moving victim impact statement, the girl’s mum told how her daughter was “no longer the little girl who would dance around the living room”.Basildon Crown Court heard she cannot walk, sit or stand by herself and is in constant pain.The youngster also struggles to speak, is now epileptic and has to be tube fed as she finds it difficult to eat or drink.The horror unfolded in Westcliff-on-Sea in January 2020.Most read in FootballIn the weeks leading up to the attack, Hughes-Mason had told how the girl was “getting on my nerves”.The prosecutor said: “He regularly belittled them, talked about them as if they were stupid and put them down.”Hughes-Mason was arrested after police found the injuries were “deliberately” inflicted.Hughes-Mason moved to Millwall in 2009 and spent two years playing for the Championship club. He played for a string of English Football League and non-league clubs including Welling United and Leatherhead.Girl’s family outline horrific injuries she sufferedSpeaking after today’s sentencing, the victim’s mother and her family said: “On the 31 January 2020 our whole world was blown apart. Our daughter, our niece, our granddaughter has been left with significant physical and mental disabilities that will impact her for the rest of her life.“She cannot sit, stand or walk independently, requiring a hoist to move her.“As a result of her injuries, she suffers with constant pain that needs to be managed daily.“The brain damage caused has affected her communication, she cannot even tell us where her pain is or what upsets her.“She is now epileptic, suffers with sleep disorders, struggles to eat and cannot drink – she is tube-fed for all her hydration and nutritional needs.“Despite all this, we still see her personality shine through every day. In the midst of the pain she constantly faces, she brightens the darkest days.”We will continue our best to ensure that she can live each day to the full as best she can. We love her more than anything else in this world.“We are thankful that today some form of justice has been achieved, however this sentence does not compare to the life sentence our little girl now has.“We mourn all the experiences we would have shared with her, that were taken from her by a violent coward, and we celebrate every day we still get to share with our beautiful young girl.”Most recently, Hughes-Mason he managed Enfield Borough but was fired following his conviction.Hashtag United, where the thug was a reserve team manager, said his crimes were “frankly sickening”.A spokesperson said: “We can categorically say that the club had no knowledge whatsoever of these events until today. READ MORE SUN STORIES”We are told that the crimes he has now been found guilty of occurred before he joined us.”Some serious flaws have been exposed in procedures as we’d received confirmation from the relevant authorities that he was clear to coach as part of standard background checks.”Hughes-Mason played for a string of clubs More

DISGRACED footballer Dani Alves has been seen playing football for the first time since his release from prison in Spain.A new video appeared to show the convicted rapist playing alongside his pals and fans at a pitch in Barcelona.Dani Alves leaving prison in March after serving just four weeks of his sentenceAlves was seen playing football at an informal match in BarcelonaCredit: Twitter / @ssvideos8The disgraced footballer donned a Boca Juniors shirtCredit: Twitter / @ssvideos8Alves makes weekly appearances in court as part of his bail conditions, pictured here last Friday with his lawyerCredit: EPAThe 41-year-old Brazilian spent just four weeks of his sentence behind bars after a rape conviction – stumping up £850k to be released on bail.Ex-Barcelona star Alves hopes to be acquitted and restore his public image, eventually making a shocking comeback to the sport, El Pais reports.But the shamed rapist already gave a glimpse of his return as he joined a casual match on an artificial turf pitch in Barcelona, according to Spanish outlet Marca.Alves reportedly organised the match through a mobile app designed to help users find local players and set up informal matches with people they don’t necessarily know.Read more on Dani AlvesThe disgraced ace added an unexpected twist to his appearance by going to the game with several friends and wearing a jersey from Boca Juniors, an Argentine team he has never played for.The other players didn’t seem to notice the Brazilian football player at first, but soon enough, his presence created a stir. Alves started to get recognised by the crowd, with many asking for pictures with the convicted rapist after the game.He served a few weeks of his four-and-a-half-year sentence before being released on bail from a prison near Barcelona in March.Most read in FootballAccording to reports, Alves and his estranged wife Joana Sanz are holed up in their £4million Spanish mansion for most of the time.Moment rapist Dani Alves walks FREE from prison just weeks into his 4.5-year sentence after paying €1m bailAlves’ relationship to Joana Sanz broke down after the shocking rape accusations came outCredit: GettyBut the on-and-off couple are said to be living a low life in their luxurious mansion in EspluguesCredit: Instagram/danialvesThe Brazil ace also had a remarkable career at BarcelonaCredit: GettyBut the former footballer did recently visit a high-end Barcelona hotel, enjoying wagyu beef steak with a friend, El Periodico reports.The pair reportedly dined on a variety of expensive dishes from the steakhouse restaurant as Alves spoke to press about his parole terms.Alves told a reporter he has to “play a game” in court during weekly appearances while on bail.Struggling financially since losing his income and hefty sponsorship, the shamed footballer does not expect football clubs or companies to return even if he is acquitted, El Pais reports.It is not clear exactly in what role he plans to return to the world of professional football.The Brazilian had made several attempts before his conviction to get bail, but they were turned down in part because he was deemed a flight risk.Days of speculation preceded his release from jail over where the money was going to come from.Despite earning over £45million across his successful career, Alves had his bank accounts frozen when he was sat in his jail cell meaning he couldn’t fund his own release.Just hours after the disgraced star was released he hosted an all-night party at his £4.5m mansion in Esplugues de LLobregat – a 25-minute drive west of Barcelona.Dani Alves rape case: a timelineDECEMBER 30, 2022: Brazilian footballer Dani Alves allegedly raped a woman in a nightclub in Barcelona.JANUARY 20, 2023: Alves is arrested and is held in pre-trial detention.FEBRUARY 2024: In a trial held in Barcelona, the footballer denied the allegations and said the encounter had been consensual. Held at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court, the trial lasted three days and saw the victim, witnesses, and experts testify.His accuser told the prosecution that she had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.In court she claimed that he was aggressive with her, slapping her and insulting her, and then forced her to have sex with him.Following the trial, Alves was found guilty of raping the woman.FEBRUARY 22, 2024: Alves was convicted and sentenced to four and a half years in prison.The court also ordered Alves to pay £130K (150,000 euros) in compensation to the victim.Alves’ lawyers immediately appealed his sentence.MARCH 20, 2024: A Barcelona court released Alves on a bail of €1million (£850k) pending an appeal on his conviction.MARCH 25, 2024: Convicted rapist Alves left Brians 2 Prison after spending just weeks behind bars – stumping up £850k to be released on bail.PRESENT DAY: His defence is seeking his acquittal while the prosecutor wants his prison sentence increased to nine years.There is no date yet for the new trial at a higher court in Barcelona. It can then go to the Supreme Court in Madrid.Meanwhile, Alves and his estranged wife Joana Sanz are holed up in their £4million Spanish mansion in the outskirts of Barcelona.Days later, Spanish media reported that supermodel Sanz had already paid Alves a visit.Following reports that their marriage was over, Sanz shared a picture of the pair holding hands with matching tattoos to her Instagram last week.Alves, once a serial winner on the football pitch with 44 medals to his name, was arrested by Catalan police in January 2023 and spent over a year behind bars afterwards.Dani Alves was accused of raping the woman in a nightclub in Barcelona on December 30, 2022.He claimed the sexual encounter was consensual, insisting “he would never hurt anyone”.The player was found guilty of rape and sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars in February.But on March 20, 2024 a court ruled he could appeal his conviction and get out of his hellhole jail while his team, headed by Ines Guardiola, carried out the appeal.His bail was set at his €1million (£850,000) – a figure originally thought to be getting paid for by pal Neymar Jr’s father, say LaVanguardia.Neymar da Silva Santos Sr had been expected to help Alves pay the money to secure his freedom, but he issued a statement denying he would hand over any cash after coming under political pressure in his homeland.The bail conditions set by the court say Alves must stay at least 1,000m away from the home of the victim or any other place she frequently goes.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe is also banned from ever contacting her and must handover his Brazilian and Spanish passports.The court feared Alves could leave Spain and travel to his native Brazil to try and avoid serving any more jail time.Alves was convicted of rape in February but has only served a month behind barsCredit: APAlves walked free after he struggled to stump up the cash needed to make bail last weekCredit: ReutersAlves is keeping a low profile in his £4m Spanish boltholeCredit: InstagramJoanna Sanz shared this picture of her and estranged husband Dani Alves – with matching tattoos More