Mum and boyfriend jailed for killing daughter, 3, in ‘ferocious assault’ after cries interrupted them having sex

A mum and her boyfriend have been jailed for killing her three-year-old daughter in a “ferocious attack” after the girl’s cries interrupted them having sex.

Nicola Priest, 23, and Callum Redfern, 22, repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on Kaylee-Jayde Priest after they lost their temper when the child wanted to play.

Priest ignored Kaylee’s cries for help and instead uploaded videos of her lovebites to Snapchat and chatted to pals online.

She called 999 on August 9 last year claiming her daughter was ill but the little girl was already dead.

A post mortem revealed Kaylee died from chest and abdominal injuries which were the equivalent to being in a 40mph car crash.

Several jurors broke down in tears as the court heard Kaylee had also suffered 68 new and old injuries including smashed ribs and a broken leg and sternum.

Sentencing

Priest and Redfern were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday.

During the four-week trial, both Priest and Redfern, who had been together just three months before Kaylee’s death, blamed each other for the killing.

On Friday, Priest, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was jailed for 15 years for manslaughter.

She was also sentenced to three years for child cruelty which will run concurrently.

Redfern, of Dudley, West Midlands, was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter.

What the judge said

Mr Justice Foxton told him: “On the evening of August 8 you Redfern went to Priest’s flat. The two of you went to have sex.

“Kaylee wanted to stay up and play. There is no direct evidence of what happened next.

“Kaylee was sick more than once during the night as a result of the severe beating.

“You lost your tempers and it is clear you were joint participants in that assault.

“You both knew you had seriously injured Kaylee.

“Redfern. I am satisfied you were the dominant person. She was clearly infatuated with you.

“Nicola Priest for you it was a source of money and someone to have sex with.

“You and Priest were equally responsible for the attack on Kaylee. It is the case of a particularly young victim, Kaylee suffered significant pain.

He added: “The injuries were caused by a ferocious assault.

“The force of the beating on Kaylee was clear to see: two bones in her wrist, three fractures to her ribs which made lung collapse but horrible pressure on her heart.

“There were also severe internal bleeding and abdominal injuries including injuries to her internal organs as well as scratches and bruises to Kaylee’s face and further injuries to her arms and legs.

“These injuries would have caused Kaylee pain and distress, made even more acute as she was moved and touched.”

‘I’ll just say she fell off the bed’

CCTV shows Priest walking out of their home in Solihull with Kaylee to play in the park just hours before she suffered the fatal attack.

The court heard Priest had previously hit Kaylee around the head and referred to her as a “f***ing brat”.

On one occasion, neighbours in the flat below at Kingshurst House, Solihull, heard a bang before Kaylee started crying.

The neighbour told the court she head Priest say: “I’ll just say she fell off the bed.”

Other residents told how they noticed that when Kaylee was upset, her mum would “drown out her crying with music”.

In a text message on July 24 last year, just days before Kaylee’s death, Priest told Redfern: “I’m gonna kill her because she keeps leaving the living room or going in the kitchen, so I’ve paled (hit) her one and smacked her for sh**ting in her nappy.”

Redfern then said: “Good. Give her one from me.”

Priest then replied: “I will, babe.”

On July 27, Redfern texted Priest saying: “I’m going to keep the little brat away from me. Sick of your spunking daughter.”

The court was also shown a video of Priest dancing around in her room while miming to a song in a TikTok video she posted 45 days after Kaylee’s death.

Heartbroken grandmother’s tribute to Kaylee

It also emerged Priest’s mum Debbie Windmill alerted social services about her concerns for her granddaughter’s welfare.

Solihull and Dudley Social Services visited the flat but Priest told them she was redecorating which is why Kaylee’s bedroom was bare and no further action was taken.

After the verdicts, Kaylee’s grandmother Mrs Windmill said: “I could never stop staring at the smile on her beautiful face.

“I loved every moment watching her develop to nearly school age; preparing to buy my first grandchild her pre-school uniform was something that filled me with such happiness.

“I couldn’t wait to see her in it, but this opportunity was stolen from me in the most brutal of ways.”

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