Grandmother's heartbreaking memory of only grandchild, two, cruelly murdered by her son

The grandmother of a two-year-old boy beaten to death by his own father said she can still see him "running around" when she closes her eyes.

Linda Hardcastle gave evidence during the trial of her own son, Daniel Hardcastle, which resulted in him getting a life sentence for the murder of Damion Russell, two, and a minimum term of 22 years.

The brave gran had to give evidence via videolink due to ill health.

Judge Mrs Justice Hill said during sentencing at Preston Crown Court: "She described how Damion loved to play and loved being on his bike, which his uncle bought him.

"He liked to sing at the animals in her cabinet. He had an amazing laugh when he laughed out loud. She was enjoying teaching him to count and he would count the buttons on her cardigan.

"She said Damion was her only grandchild and he made her happy and proud. She now feels sad and heartbroken and thinks about him every single day.

"When she sits outside and closes her eyes she just sees him running around and calling her 'mamma'.

Tattoo artist Hardcastle murdered Damion just weeks after he was given sole custody of the tot, who had been cared for by doting foster parents.

Hardcastle, 31, carried out an horrific physical abuse campaign that saw his son bitten, beaten and inflicted with a serious head injury that ended his life.

In a harrowing case reminiscent of Baby P, Damion suffered 80 separate injuries in the space of a few weeks before his death.

Blackpool Council will now carry out a local child safeguarding practice review to identify what went wrong, as the death was so soon after he was handed over to his father.

Preston Crown Court heard that Damion was born in July 2021 and taken into care aged 10 months because his mother could not look after him.

He was placed with foster parents Michelle and Shaun Allan, who lovingly cared for him for another 10 months.

In early 2023, Hardcastle was identified as Damion's father through DNA testing and he fought hard to have a role in his life.

For several weeks, from February 6 2023, he visited him under supervision of Blackpool Council social services at a contact centre. His parenting was assessed at a residential centre until May 18 2023.

The boy was then taken from Mr and Mrs Allan and given to Hardcastle.

The couple also gave a harrowing victim impact statement to the court.

The judge said: "Damion’s foster parents have shown great dignity and forbearance in attending court.

"Mrs Allan said in her statement that they have done so as they felt they had to represent Damion and honour him. She has described how he positively impacted their lives in the 10 months he lived with them.

"She said he was a 'delight' who would 'light up any room with his smile and his chuckle'.

"She said he loved bathtime and was a very sensory child, mesmerised by light and crinkle toys.

"She felt sure he would have continued to explore and marvel at the world around him if given the chance to do so.

"She has said that realising the force and brutality that must have been inflicted on him breaks her heart. Noting that it would have been Damion’s third birthday earlier this week, she has said how heartbreaking they find it that they, and his three biological siblings, will not get to celebrate his further milestones and achievements."

The court was told that Hardcastle initially enjoyed time with his son and welcomed support from local services, friend Sophie, who had a child of a similar age, and his mum, Linda Hardcastle, who would have him sometimes overnight.

However, he later stopped accepting such support and his mother was taken ill and he resorted to drinking and speaking to women online.

Sentencing him, Mrs Justice Hill said: "Over time, for whatever reason, you stopped accepting the support that was offered to you. You did not take Damion to playgroup after June 9 or to nursery after July 3.

"Sophie offered to have playdates with you, or look after Damion so you could go out, but you did not take her up on these suggestions.

"Your mother sadly became unwell throughout July. On August 3 she collapsed in the street and on August 13 she was admitted to hospital having suffered a stroke. She was therefore unable to help you with Damion.

"You were seen on CCTV going to your local shops, without Damion present ... on many of these occasions you bought alcohol.

"You were in touch with several women on social media. You stayed up all night on August 17 and 18 on a video call with one such woman, Charlotte.

"The call with Charlotte ended at around 5am on August 19. At one point you turned the video camera on your phone around so that she could see Damion sleeping in his bed. The room was dark.

"She saw him face down, in a starfish shape. She said how cute he looked.

"In reality, you had already caused significant physical injuries to Damion."

Dr Jonathan Medcalf, forensic pathologist, identified some 80 separate injuries to Damion’s body at post-mortem examination.

He had injuries to his head, face and neck, his chest and abdomen, the back of his trunk, both his arms, both his legs and both his feet and fractured ribs.

There were significant marks on Damion’s right thigh, including an adult bite mark.

There was a very serious injury to Damion’s mouth, including the frenulum, the tissue that attaches the top lip to the teeth, which was effectively destroyed, caused by a sipping cup being rammed into his mouth, with the latest about three days before death.

During his trial Hardcastle, who denied murder, blamed injuries on "rough play" said the toddler had fallen and banged his head on a coffee table just prior to death.

The court was told Hardcastle either forcefully shook Damion and banged his head, or caused Damion’s head to come into contact with a solid object.

The jury found him unanimously guilty after less then two hours of deliberation.