Alfie Phillips murder trial: Man told mother to bite toddler back, jury hears

A man accused of killing his partner's 18-month-old toddler has told a court he did not mean anything evil when he told her to bite him back.

Alfie Phillips died on 28 November 2020 with multiple bruises and fractures, Maidstone Crown Court has heard.

His mother Sian Hedges, 27, and her former partner Jack Benham, 35, deny murdering the boy in a caravan in Kent.

Jurors heard a series of WhatsApp messages between Ms Hedges and Mr Benham in court on Friday.

Ms Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, and Mr Benham are accused of killing Alfie overnight in Benham's caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham.

Jurors have heard that Alfie died with over 70 visible wounds - including human bite marks - and many more internal injuries.

Mr Benham told the court he was in disbelief when he read the messages back.

He said: "It was a joke. It was six weeks before he died, I didn't mean anything. I didn't mean it horribly. It was a joke."

Mr Benham's defence lawyer, Ian Henderson KC, asked him: "Were you encouraging Sian to bite Alfie back that day?"

Mr Benham replied: "No, not at all. I didn't mean for her to bite him back, I just said it. I didn't mean anything evil by that, I just said it, it rolled off my tongue."

Describing Alfie, Mr Benham said: "In my experience, Alfie was bonkers.

"Always falling over, very boisterous, he was 100 miles an hour."

Jurors were also told of another conversation between the couple in which Mr Benham texted Ms Hedges: "I'm an unstable drug addict atm."

Ms Hedges replied: "Yeah, but that don't stop me liking you, I'm not exactly stable myself."

Mr Benham told the court: "I'm addicted to drugs. Used to stay up all night when I sniffed coke, never slept.

"To be honest with you, drugs made me and Sian meet each other. We met at someone's house when we were both getting drugs at the same time."

In a further conversation, Ms Hedges sent a message to Mr Benham that said: "Omg he's a pain lol."

Mr Benham replied: "Lol, Is he babes? Give him strong drink, it will make him sleep lol."

Jurors heard Ms Hedges wrote: "I don't do that."

Mr Benham replied: "You try it. He only needs to swallow half teaspoon with dummy, he won't like it but he will chill."

In court, Mr Benham explained: "It was done to me as a child."

The trial continues.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].