The five missed chances to save Logan from life of cruel abuse
SOCIAL workers missed at least five chances to save little Logan Mwangi from his horrific life of abuse, it can be revealed.
The five-year-old was found dead in the River Ogmore in Sarn, Bridgend, in July last year with injuries described as being similar to those from a high-speed car crash.
The youngster had suffered more than 56 external injuries, as well as horrific internal wounds - including a large tear to his liver and one to his bowel.
Experts said the injuries could have only been caused by a “brutal and sustained assault” inflicted on Logan in the hours, or days, prior to his death. They also said the injuries were “consistent with child abuse”.
Logan had been dumped in the river in the early hours by his 6ft 4in stepdad John Cole, 40, who had made his life a living hell with beatings and bullying.
Sadly his death was the culmination of a lifetime of abuse at the hands of both former National Front member Cole and Logan’s mum Angharad Williamson, 31.
On Thursday, the scheming pair were convicted of killing Logan and trying to cover it up alongside a teenage boy, who cannot be identified due to his age.
Vile Williamson screamed “no, no, no” as the verdicts were returned and howled in anguish while vicious Cole glowered at Logan’s real dad Ben Mwangi from the dock.
But that did nothing to deter brave dad Ben from making a beautiful tribute to his son on the court steps.
He said: “Logan was the sweetest and most beautiful boy whose life has been tragically cut short. The world is a colder and darker place without his warm smile and the happy energy with which he lived his life.
“The hole that has been left in the hearts of all who knew and loved him will never be filled. No amount of time can heal the wounds that have been inflicted. The wonderful memories I have of my son will never be tarnished - they will forever be in my heart and soul.”
Questions will now have to be asked as to how social services missed a catalogue of opportunities to save Logan from being killed.
The nine-week murder trial revealed that no one spotted the warning signs for the little schoolboy who died alone in his bed two days after suffering horrific head injuries.
Tragically, Logan was stepped down on the child protection register just a month before his murder.
The first warning sign came in
August 2020 when Logan was taken to hospital after breaking his arm.
Worried medics called police over possible safeguarding concerns as mum Williamson failed to bring him into hospital straight away and waited a day.
But devious Williamson, who was described during her trial as a “liar who will try any stunt to avoid her true personality being on display”, told police Logan fell down the stairs and no further action was taken.
Then in January 2021, during a call to police, Williamson claimed Logan was pushed down the stairs by the youth, who was living with the family at the time. Logan dislocated his shoulder during the incident.
As a result, Logan was placed on the child protection register and social services became involved.
Alarm bells also failed to go off when Logan was burned by his sick mother with a boiling hot teaspoon in May 2021.
During the trial, Cole claimed Williamson took a hot teaspoon from her boiling cup of coffee and pressed it on the youngster’s neck causing him to “yelp” and jump backwards.
The wound was clearly visible and knowing that they may receive unannounced visits from social services at any time, the couple Williamson hatched a plot to lie about the injury.
Lying Williamson told a social worker that Logan had “burned his neck on the bath” and that they had since altered the thermostat so it would not happen again.
The social worker asked for photos of the wound and the tap and concluded they were a match.
Logan’s status was then changed from a Child in Care to a Child in Need on the child protection register after a safeguarding review.
The following month a social worker visited the family home the day before Logan died to check on things but crucially did not see or speak to Logan, who Williamson claimed was isolating with Covid-19.
Medical experts said it was likely he was already seriously injured at this time.
During the trial, the jury heard how Logan had been kept like a prisoner in the weeks leading up to his death.
Williamson claimed that two days before Logan’s body was found, an argument about a spilt drink escalated and ended with Cole and the youth attacking him.
She accused Cole of punching Logan twice in the stomach and ordering the youth to “sweep” Logan if he stuttered or flinched.
She claimed moments later the youth carried out the martial artsstyle manoeuvre, kicking his legs out from under him while using his hand to slam his head to the ground.
Williamson said she screamed for them to stop but said Cole replied: “The only way this boy understands is pain.”
Two days later, she phoned the police at 5.45am reporting Logan missing - claiming to have awoken to find him gone.
Police arrived at the flat to find Williamson hysterical, while Cole and the youth could be seen walking around the area calling for him. But this was nothing more than what prosecutors described as an “elaborate” cover-up concocted by the defendants to conceal Logan’s murder.
Police arrested Williamson, Cole and the unnamed youth the very next day.
On Thursday, assistant director of the the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Cymru, Tracey Holdsworth, said: “The treatment of Logan Mwangi by people who should have been caring for him was horrific, but for his death to have involved another young person is even more shocking.
“A Child Safeguarding Practice Review must now leave no stone unturned in establishing exactly what took place before Logan died and whether more could have been done to protect him.
“There must also be more investment in children’s services in Wales to ensure they are able to provide comprehensive support to any child at risk of harm and be better equipped to prevent a tragedy such as this happening again in Wales.”
In response to Logan’s murder, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board has commissioned a Child Practice Review.
The report, which is expected to
take about six months to complete, will then be presented to the Regional Safeguarding Board for scrutiny and approval, before being submitted to the Welsh Government for final endorsement.
Bridgend County Borough Council said it wouldn’t comment on any specifics until the child practice review had been published.
The council released a brief statement following the conviction calling Logan’s death “a deeply sad and tragic affair which has affected all who live within Bridgend county borough”. It will issue a further statement once sentencing has been confirmed.
South Wales Police referred themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IOPC) but they concluded there was no case to answer.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We received a mandatory death or serious injury referral from South Wales Police on August 1 last year, about previous police contact some months prior to Logan’s tragic death, and the contact police had when he was reported missing.
“Having carefully assessed the information provided, we decided there was no necessity to investigate, and returned the referral to the force for them to handle. Our thoughts remain with Logan’s family and friends.”