Grandparents who murdered toddler after campaign of horrific abuse will not have their jail sentences increased

Life sentences for grandparents who abused toddler to death remain unchanged

A two-year-old boy, Ethan Ives-Griffiths, died after suffering brutal abuse at the hands of his maternal grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives. The couple, both in their late 40s, were sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime, but their jail terms will not be lengthened by the Court of Appeal.

The tragic incident occurred in Flintshire, North Wales, in August 2021, when Ethan collapsed with a severe head injury at his grandparents’ home. At the time, the toddler was already extremely dehydrated and underweight, weighing just 10 kilograms, and had visible bruises and marks across his body.

A post-mortem examination revealed Ethan had sustained over 40 injuries, including catastrophic brain trauma. The report highlighted his ‘painfully thin’ appearance and the extent of his physical suffering. The court was presented with CCTV footage showing Michael Ives lifting his grandson by the arm and delivering a punch after placing him in a car seat, while other clips depicted the boy walking with a staggered gait in the garden.

Lord Justice Popplewell, Mr Justice Sweeting, and Judge Penelope Moreland ruled that the sentences were fair, dismissing the appeal to increase them. The Solicitor General’s representative, Bill Emlyn Jones KC, argued the punishments were ‘unduly lenient,’ emphasizing the grandparents’ prolonged mistreatment of Ethan.

During the appeal, the judges noted that the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Griffiths, had clearly considered the severity of the case. They stated that Michael Ives’ sentence of 23 years was appropriate, and Kerry Ives’ 17-year term was also justified. ‘We are not persuaded that the sentence was unduly lenient,’ the panel concluded.

Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was convicted of causing or allowing his death and sentenced to 12 years. Her lawyer, Gordon Cole KC, challenged the term, claiming it was ‘too long’ and that the judge had overlooked her personal circumstances. However, the judges found the arguments insufficient to justify altering the sentence.

The case has drawn attention to the role of child protection measures, as Ethan had been on the register for regular checks every 10 days. Despite this, his mother informed a social worker on August 5 that Ethan was resting, just days before his fatal collapse. The boy was last seen with his family at Broughton Retail Park on August 13, 2021, moments before his death.