Leila Borrington: Monster Step-Mum Who Killed Disabled Toddler Jailed
Leila Borrington filmed her three-year-old disabled stepson Harvey Borrington as he lay dying from a colossal brain injury she inflicted. The monster step-mum was convicted of manslaughter, assault, and GBH after a history of abuse towards the defenceless child.
3-year-old Harvey Borrington died from severe head injuries including a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull.
The toddler was non-verbally autistic, meaning he could not tell his biological mother about the abuse he was receiving, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Harvey's 23-year-old stepmother, Leila Borrington, was acquitted of murder but convicted of his manslaughter following a trial.
The jury at Nottingham Crown Court heard how Borrington struck the defenceless toddler multiple times to the head at her home in Nottinghamshire in August 2021.
The callous woman then filmed the severely injured boy as he lay unconscious on the floor, she sent the video to Harvey's father with a text saying: "Why does this happen to me?"
She did this before calling emergency services, and when paramedics arrived she lied to them, claiming Harvey had fallen and hit his head.
Katie Holroyd, Harvey's biological mother, cried as she told the court: "To this day I can't bear to think of him lying on that floor with him dying and her filming him, delaying getting medical help for him."
The video, recorded on Borrington's mobile phone, showed her grabbing Harvey's left arm, lifting it up, and letting it drop loosely to the floor. She continued to film as he lay motionless on the floor of the living room.
Harvey was assaulted by Borrington on 7 August 2021 at her home in Main Road, Jacksdale, which she shared with Harvey's father.
The young boy died in hospital two days later from his injuries.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how Harvey's death came after a history of abuse at the hands of Borrington.
Prosecuting, Jonas Hankin KC, told the court how Harvey's disability and young age made him extra vulnerable, which were aggravating features.
He said: "He was severely non-verbally autistic. His challenging behaviour demanded greater empathy and kindness from his carers. It cannot justify the defendant's offending in any way."
Borrington maintained her innocence throughout, claiming Harvey had fallen from the sofa and banged his dead.
However, the prosecution called forward an expert witness who said Harvey had died as a result of "direct blunt force trauma", sustained after Borrington assaulted the toddler.
Mr Justice Nicklin, sentencing, told Borrington: "Precisely what happened to Harvey only you know, but by their verdict, the jury was sure that your account of Harvey having fallen, hitting his head on the floor, was not the truth, or at least not the full truth.
"The jury's verdict shows they were sure you had assaulted Harvey, causing the very serious head injuries that led to his death."
Borrington was also convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm for previously breaking Harvey's arm, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm for an incident in which she squeezed his cheeks.
Borrington was sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter, as well as given a two-year prison sentence and a six-month sentence for the other offences, the judge ordered these to be served concurrently with her manslaughter sentence.
Harvey's heartbroken mother said: "To have it confirmed that Harvey, before his death, has been assaulted by Leila Borrington will be a life-long trauma for me, a recurring nightmare which I will never be able to wake from.
"He couldn't tell me didn't want to (to stay with Borrington)."
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