Kyle Bevan was jailed for life after brutally murdering two-year-old Lola James in a “sustained, deliberate and very violent” attack at a house in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 2020
A man who savagely killed a toddler in her home in Wales has died in prison. Kyle Bevan, 33, was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years after executing a “sustained, deliberate and very violent” assault on two year old Lola James at a property in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on July 17, 2020.
It was confirmed today that Bevan was discovered dead at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, having served only two-and-a-half years of his sentence, reports the Mirror.
A spokesperson for the prison service stated: “HMP Wakefield prisoner Kyle Bevan’s death was confirmed on November 5. We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”
During his 2023 trial at Swansea Crown Court, jurors were told that Lola was attacked so violently by her mother’s partner that she suffered injuries consistent with those seen in victims of serious car crashes, according to Wales Online.
Bevan initially claimed that Lola’s injuries were caused accidentally, alleging she fell down the stairs after being knocked over by the family dog. However, she was found to have sustained 101 injuries, including severe brain injuries and catastrophic retinal damage.
Lola was rushed to Withybush Hospital but died four days later, on July 21, 2020, without regaining consciousness.
Bevan – who pleaded not guilty – was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Lola’s mum, Sinead James, was also sentenced to six years behind bars for allowing or causing the death of a child. At the time of the horrific incident, James and Bevan had been an item for a few months, having met on Facebook.
Judge Mr Justice Griffiths characterised Bevan’s assault as “sustained, deliberate and very violent”, highlighting that it involved the use of weapons. He described the attack as an “exercise of power” over “the only person he could feel superior to” – a defenceless child.
Mr Griffiths further noted that Bevan displayed no regret for his actions during the trial and seemed solely concerned about himself.
Police are now probing into Bevan’s death in custody, in conjunction with the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. His death follows that of former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins in October, who was slain in a prison assault while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences at HMP Wakefield.
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