A NORTH YORKSHIRE builder who turned a baby's life into months of a "living hell" of terror and pain before killing him has been jailed for life.

Kevin Raw, 40, inflicted so many injuries and broke so many bones that 13-month-old Kieron Brown, of Malton, resembled a car crash victim, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Then, during years of lying, he blamed his lover, Kieron's mother, Deborah, for the campaign of brutality and painful death. He also harassed her.

But, after five hours of deliberations, a jury convicted him unanimously of murder, five charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one of causing actual bodily harm. They cleared him of one charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Raw, of Elm Drive, Pickering, had denied all charges.

He shook his head in the dock as Judge James Stewart QC told him: "Not only did you murder him, you made the last weeks of his life a living hell. You repeatedly beat him by punching him, stamping on him and squeezing him with a vice-like grip."

The judge said: "This child had but nine months of a quality life. ... It was in September (2000) that Kieron's life became one of misery, pain and terror. You finally brought his life to an end on December 15, 2000."

That night, Raw had squeezed the baby so hard, he had broken his ribs and some internal organs, causing internal bleeding.

"You have aggravated your situation by seeking to put the blame on his mother," said the judge. "That in my judgement is unforgivable."

He jailed Raw for life with a recommendation that he serve at least 15 years.

During the trial, the jury heard that Kieron clung to his mother continuously during the last months of his life.

After the verdict they heard Raw had previous convictions for violence, including a 2003 conviction for harassing Ms Brown.

Mr Worsley, for Raw, said his client was a hard-working man who had not planned the violence and had been unable to cope with the frustration and anger caused by living with a baby.

Outside court, Det Con Ian Fieldsend of Malton CID said: "This was a little defenceless child that only did what any normal child does - lives, eats, breathes and cries from time to time."

The case had been very complex medically. Normally, medical experts are paid for their advice, but in this case one of the prosecution's experts, Dr Chris Williams of Leeds, had asked for his fee to go to the NSPCC.

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, August 21, 2004