A MUM who failed to protect her toddler son from her boyfriend who battered him to death has avoided jail.

Tamika Beaton, 25, left 18-month-old Andrew Cawker in the care of partner Scott Coombe in the months leading to his death.

The youngster had suffered a number of bruises and injuries but Beaton put her "own interests" before those of her son.

This led to "catastrophic" consequences as devout Christian Coombe regularly battered little Andrew.

Beaton has escaped jail after she was convicted of child cruelty between January 7 and July 9 , 2019.

She was instead handed a 12 month prison suspended for 18 months.

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Coombe, previously admitted manslaughter, child cruelty and assaulting the toddler on three occasions, was jailed for nine years.

Jurors were told Andrew died in hospital on July 22, 2019 – 13 days after suffering a head injury at home.

He never regained consciousness after being shaken and thrown by "irritated" Coombe.

Beaton had embarked on affair behind Andrew's dad's back with Coombe after meeting him at a fitness class to lose her baby weight.

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She confirmed the relationship in December 2018, with the toddler beginning to show "regular bruising" three months later.

Andrew's dad Ben Cawker took photos of the marks and even asked a doctor to check if the toddler was prone to bruising, which he was not.

Beaton attempted to blame Mr Cawker for the injuries and suggested he was not "supervising" their son properly.

Prosecutor Sally O'Neill KC said: "His bruises were as a result of being assaulted by Scott Coombe and it must have been obvious to Tamika Beaton that it was Scott Coombe who was doing it.

"Not only did she do nothing to protect Andrew from being injured by Scott Coombe, she tried to cover up the injuries by blaming Ben Cawker, his father, for causing them.

"There are many texts in this case which the Crown say illustrate her knowledge of what was going on and her deliberate refusal to tell Social Services about it because she knew that if she did, the result would be that either Scott Coombe would have to leave the home or [Andrew] would be taken into care.

"She was putting her own interests before those of Andrew with the most catastrophic consequences for Andrew."

On July 9, 2019, Beaton had gone to a dance class knowing her partner had been at work all day.

Coombe called 999 claiming the youngster started "looking a bit stiff" then collapsed while he was playing.

The court was told he had become "irritated" with Andrew and picked him up by grabbing his upper arms.

In a "moment of anger and frustration" Coombe "shook him vigorously backwards and forwards briefly and then threw him backwards".

Andrew's shoulder area then hit the floor and his head fell back and bounced.

Detective Sergeant Quinn Cutler, a homicide detective, led the investigation and said: “This is an utterly heart-breaking case where a defenceless child has sustained prolonged abuse at the hands of those who should have been caring for him, resulting in his death.

“Andrew should have been in the place where he felt safe; at home with his mother and her partner. However, over the course of a year, Andrew suffered regular assaults at the hands of Scott Coombe culminating in the attack on 9 July 2019 which proved to be fatal.

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“His mother, Tamika Beaton, clearly suspected Coombe was responsible for these injuries but chose not to intervene or seek help. Indeed, when questioned by police she sought to place the blame on another man.

"While Beaton did not directly inflict injuries on her son, her inaction most certainly played a part in his death.”

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