Coxhoe man jailed for child cruelty and assault after trial

A man named Kaylem Sugden, aged 25, from The Grove, Coxhoe, County Durham, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison following his conviction for child cruelty and assault causing actual bodily harm. Sugden, who denied both charges during his trial at Durham Crown Court, was found guilty by the jury on the third day of trial. The charges involved wilfully assaulting or ill-treating a child to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health between September 8, 2020, and September 10, 2021, with the actual assault occurring on September 8, 2021. The child allegedly suffered injuries including bruises on the face, forearm, and thigh. Judge Jo Kidd imposed the sentence, which totaled two years and six months, after Sugden’s guilt was confirmed. The court heard that Sugden denied the charges at a plea hearing in late May and was subsequently convicted following the trial, which involved injuries to the child including facial bruising, and bruises on a forearm and thigh. The article notes that Sugden’s conviction is related to acts of child cruelty and physical assault causing harm. The case was presided over by Judge Jo Kidd, and Sugden received a prison term of 30 months.