Baby killer Alan Noakes has been sentenced to 14 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of killing toddler Stephen Copperwheat.

Friday's sentence covers assaults on three children, including the manslaughter of baby Stephen.

Noakes, 36, of Christchurch Road, Southend, stood expressionless in the dock as he was cleared of the 16-month-old's murder - but the jury unanimously found him guilty of the boy's manslaughter.

The baby's mother, Michelle Dyer, broke down in tears as the verdict was read to a packed Chelmsford Crown Court - other family members and friends quietly cheered.

Noakes caused the toddler severe head and brain injuries when left alone with him in his home in Rising Grove, Laindon on September 27 1992.

The baby died on September 29 after two days on a life support machine.

At the time Noakes escaped conviction - but after pleading guilty to assaulting another baby in 1996, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison, detectives launched an investigation into his past.

Noakes was also found guilty of two charges of causing grevious bodily harm and two charges of causing actual bodily harm to three children, including Stephen.

He had ruptured the baby's bowel after viciously punching him just a week before his death.

A two-year-old girl suffered terrible facial injuries when the killer lost his patience with her while he was staying with her mother.

Noakes was cleared of two charges of causing actual bodily harm to two children.

The jury of six men and five women spent an agonising 12 hours considering their verdicts.

Some jury members looked close to tears as the foreman read their decision out to the court.

Speaking outside the court after Noakes was led away, the baby's father, John Copperwheat said: "I hope he rots in hell."

Mr Copperwheat, of Little Lullaway, Basildon, said he had always suspected that Noakes was behind his son's death - despite an inquest blaming a fall down the stairs for it.

He said: "I feel relieved - I'm glad it's finally all over. I hope that now Stephen can rest in peace - he was a lovely kid."

Passing sentence, the Honourable Justice Gage said: "This was a truly dreadful crime. By your actions not only have you caused the life of an innocent and vulnerable child to be lost but you have caused immense distress to his family.

"This is a gross breach of trust of your position as a father figure in the lives of these children."

Noakes received eight years for the manslaughter of baby Stephen, one year for an assault on a three-month-old boy and five years for an attack on a two year old girl to run consecutively.

Killer - Alan Noakes

(Right) Victim - Stephen Copperwheat

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.