A man has been given a 22-year sentence after bitemarks, burns and sexual abuse to an 18month toddler.

Kane Fanelli, aged 27, of Clover Close, Luton, appeared before St Albans Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday 31 October after being convicted guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and one count of sexual assault against the male victim, who was 18-months-old at the time.

During the seven-week trial, the court heard how Fanelli subjected the victim living in Watford, to a protracted campaign of abuse between May 2018 and June 2018.

On Sunday 1 July 2018, the victim was taken to hospital with an injury to which doctors conducted a thorough physical examination, they discovered a large number of other painful injuries they deemed non-accidental and the police were called.

One doctor said that ‘in over 25 years as a paediatrician, had rarely seen such extensive injuries in a child’ and that it was ‘fortuitous he was alive’.

The victim was immediately placed under police protection.

Fanelli was arrested 3 days later and subsequently charged in connection to the investigation.

Detective Constable Caroline Bright, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Joint Child Protection Investigation Team, led the investigation.

She said: “This was the most challenging and gruelling case I have ever investigated and first and foremost, my thoughts are with the little boy. He is now finally safe from his abuser and I can only hope the inexplicable cruelty he suffered does not have a far-reaching impact on the rest of his life.

“During his campaign of torture, Fanelli showed himself to be a significant and dangerous risk to children. He consistently displayed a complete disregard for the wellbeing of an innocent toddler.

“I am satisfied with Fanelli’s custodial sentence and am glad he will no longer pose a danger to children now he is behind bars.”

After serving an 18-year custodial sentence, Fanelli will serve an additional four years on extended licence. However he will be assessed prior to release from prison to ensure he no longer poses a danger to the community.

His name will appear on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and he will also be subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) with a number of terms which prevent him having contact with any child under the age of 16.

Fanelli is prohibited from contacting the victim, who is now three years old and thriving in foster care. The protected victim can not be named under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.