Blackpool man jailed for life over murdering his son

Daniel Hardcastle, 32, killed Damion Russell in a “brutal and sustained assault” at their home in Central Drive, Blackpool, in August last year.

Hardcastle was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court yesterday (July 10) and today was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years before he will be able to apply for parole.

Daniel Hardcastle (Image: Lancashire Police)

He claimed his son had injured himself after falling and hitting his head on a coffee table, but a pathologist found the extensive injuries Damion suffered were inconsistent with that claim.

Damion was taken to hospital following the assault but died two days later.

READ MORE: Blackpool man found guilty of murdering his two-year-old son

The trial heard that Damion had suffered horrendous injuries including a forceful adult human bite mark to his upper right thigh. He had also suffered fractured ribs, bruising across his whole body and a tear to the inside of his lip consistent with a drinking bottle being forced into his mouth.

Damion Russell (Image: Lancashire Police)

The jury was told Hardcastle, who had sole care of his son, had started drinking more in the days and weeks before the assault. He had isolated himself from his support network and the night immediately before inflicting the injuries which ultimately killed Damion, Hardcastle spent all night chatting to a woman he had met online.

Det Supt Al Davies, of the force major investigation team, said: “First and foremost my thoughts today are with Damion’s loved ones. I hope this sentence gives them some sense that while nothing can bring Damion back, justice has been done for their loved one.

“Damion’s murder was an unspeakably vile and heinous act committed by the very man Damion should have been able to rely upon to love and protect him – his own father.”