Boisterous Stephen Copperwheat was an active and lively child who often got into scrapes.

But a fateful meeting with 36-year-old Alan Noakes in July 1992 was to eventually lead to his death.

His mum Michelle, then aged 20, had just separated from her husband and found herself with nowhere to go after a row with her mother.

She had become friends with Noakes as they both lived near to each other in Rising Grove, Laindon, and would speak while watching their children play outside.

Idle chit chat turned to love and the pair soon became a couple - with fatal consequences!

Just four weeks after she had moved into Noakes' home, Michelle told the court she saw a cluster of bruises on Stephen's lower back.

And just a week before his death she heard a loud thump, followed by Stephen's screams.

Noakes rushed the baby upstairs and the toddler was taken to hospital where he stayed overnight but was later released.

It is now thought Noakes, who blamed the thump on a noisy neighbour, punched the youngster so hard it ruptured his bowel, although this was not noticed until after his death.

On September 27 1992 Noakes returned home from playing football and, while Stephen slept upstairs, Michelle went to get some sugar to help Noakes make an apple crumble.

She was gone for just 20 minutes - but during that time it is thought Stephen had suffered those fatal head injuries.

When Michelle got home, Noakes told her that Stephen had been sick again but that the toddler was okay.

He then went to check on the youngster and suddenly shouted to Michelle "Stephen isn't breathing, quick call an ambulance".

The ambulance soon came and rushed the baby to Basildon Hospital. Noakes even travelled with the ambulance to hospital where he was later spotted crying.

Stephen was put on a life support machine and the couple were told he could have contracted some form of meningitis.

Two days later, the machine was switched off and Stephen died.

Both Noakes and Michelle were arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder - Michelle was later charged with neglect, although the charges were dropped.

A post mortem revealed extensive head injuries and brain swelling, which at the time was put down to a fall down stairs some nine days before his death.

An inquest on April 1 1993 recorded a verdict of an accidental death.

Michelle was later to sue the hospital authorities for not diagnosing Stephen properly, losing the case after a three year battle.

Tragic - Stephen Copperwheat sustained head injuries during a beating by Noakes and was on life support for two days before his death Fall almost saved toddler

A fall down stairs by Stephen Copperwheat some nine days before his death almost saved Alan Noakes' bacon.

For years he escaped a court trial for the little boy's death. Even an inquest failed to spot the crucial evidence.

The youngster tumbled down seven stairs at his grandmother's home just days before his death - but after some initial crying was soon back on his feet, running about as normal with no marks or grazes.

Dr Peter Venezis, who examined Stephen after his death, told the court it was possible that a delayed reaction from the fall could have caused his death.

But he said it was more likely that the horrific head injuries were caused by non-accidental means.

He said the fall would almost certainly have caused some form of concussion.

The jury heard how Stephen would have had to take a running jump at the stairs, leaping about five feet upwards and landing head first on the floor - having cleared all the stairs - to sustain the injuries he had.

But a coroner's inquest was clearly fooled - it recorded a verdict of an accidental death, blaming the fall for the injuries. Diary of violence

29 July 1985: Assault to the leg of a three-month-old boy.

22 September 1992: Ruptures Stephen Copperwheat's bowel after punching him.

27 September 1992: Attacks Stephen causing him serious head injuries.

29 September 1992: Stephen's life support machine is switched off.

24 November 1993: Attacks a two-year-old girl causing her terrible facial and neck injuries.

11 February 1996: Attacks a two-month-old boy, causing him bruising and swelling to the lip. Later convicted of wounding and sent to prison for two years.

Anger - John Copperwheat, Stephen's real dad, pictured with his girlfriend Nicky Roskell and her children, said he hopes Noakes rots in hell Baby killer Alan Noakes has been found guilty of the manslaughter of little Stephen Copperwheat.

He was also found guilty of a number of other sickening offences against three children.

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