Ryan Lovell-Hancox

A West Midlands couple who brutally murdered a three-year-old boy have been jailed for life.

Kayley Boleyn and Christopher Taylor, of Slim Avenue, Bilston, inflicted more than 70 injuries on Ryan Lovell-Hancox, who died in hospital on Christmas Eve 2008.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Boleyn, 19, was known to social services.

A social worker even attended the home she shared with 25-year-old Taylor the day the toddler was rushed to hospital in a coma.

Boleyn has been told she must serve at least 13 years in prison while Taylor's minimum term was set at 15 years.

The couple were earlier found guilty by a jury of murder and child cruelty.

DC Keith Langdon is the family liaison officer for Ryan's mum and dad and said on behalf of the family:
 
"Ryan died on Christmas Eve 2008 because of what Christopher Taylor and Kayley Boleyn did to him.
 
They deprived Ryan of his life and so they should be deprived of their freedom. We do not believe that they should ever be released and that life should mean life.
 
We think about Ryan everyday and we realise that nothing will bring him back. We hope that Christopher Taylor and Kayleigh Boleyn will think about what they have done for the rest of their lives in the same way that we think about losing him.
 
We would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us throughout this terrible ordeal."