Mum’s ex jailed over tot’s dying as ‘accidents so unhealthy that ache could not be eased’

Kol Page lived for two years after being subjected to escalating violence in his mum and her now ex-boyfriend as both have now been jailed over his “catastrophic” injuries

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A woman’s ex-boyfriend has been jailed for the manslaughter of her young son as she was imprisoned for allowing the death of her child who was subjected to physical abuse by him.

Scott O’Connor, 36, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday to 18 years’ imprisonment and a five-year extended licence period, and the boy’s mother, Zoe Coutts, 35, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Kol Page was subjected to escalating violence while in the couple’s care in April 2022 and died aged four in June 2024 as a result of the injuries he sustained two years earlier.

Prosecutors said Kol’s “catastrophic” injuries were of the force “seen in a serious road traffic accident or a fall from a height onto a hard object”.

On 25 April 2022, an ambulance was called to an address in Bromley after Kol went into cardiac arrest. During emergency surgery, doctors found serious internal injuries and bleeding caused by significant injuries to his abdomen.

During the trial, jurors were shown text messages between the couple. One on the morning of April 20, 2022, showed Coutts had messaged O’Connor to say Kol had been “whinging”. O’Connor replied saying: “Jesus slap him back to sleep lol.”

Expert evidence concluded these were consistent with punching, kicking, or stamping. Kol never fully recovered and was left with life-changing injuries and brain damage.

The Metropolitan Police said: “While he survived, his injuries were so severe that doctors could not give him enough medication to take away his pain without risking causing his death.”

Jurors cleared the couple of murder but convicted Coutts of causing or allowing the death of a child, and O’Connor, her boyfriend at the time, of manslaughter.

Sentencing O’Connor, the judge told him: “You struck a two-year-old child with sufficient force to tear internal tissues and cause catastrophic bleeding.

“You have shown no remorse, no insight and no acceptance of responsibility.”

While being led away after being jailed, O’Connor shouted: “For something I didn’t f****** do mate.”

The foster parents of Kol, who looked after him following the abuse he suffered, said the child was in “so much pain” and were even unbale to cuddle him to provide comfort due to his injuries.

Shared by the Metropolitan Police, the statement read: ” I immediately fell in love with him. I knew he needed someone to be there for him, to protect him. He was in so much pain It was so hard to comfort him, I wanted to cuddle him but it would cause him too much pain.

“But it was nice as the staff would say thank goodness you are here, as when he could hear my voice it would placate him. This meant that I knew he loved me in the same way I loved him.”

His family family added that they were “blessed” to have been able to look after him before he sadly passed away.

Richard Murrison, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Kol was a little boy who deserved to be safe, loved, and protected. That he was so catastrophically failed by the very people who should have cared for him most is something that will stay with everyone who has been involved in this case.

“Scott O’Connor subjected Kol to abuse so severe that it ultimately cost him his life. His own mother, Zoe Coutts, did nothing to protect him, stop the abuse, or report what was happening. We were determined to use the full force of the law to hold them to account, even years after the injuries that killed him had been inflicted. Both will now spend a significant period of time behind bars for their actions.

“From the outset, Kol remained at the heart of this prosecution. When the first trial was halted, we appealed that ruling and succeeded in securing a retrial, remaining committed to achieving justice for him.

“Securing these convictions has required years of dedicated work by our prosecution team, trial counsel, and the Metropolitan Police. We are grateful for that collaboration, and we hope today’s outcome brings some measure of comfort to all those who loved Kol.”

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