A murderer was sentenced this week after he pleaded guilty to killing a beloved toddler who referred to him as her “daddy.”
Adam Jackson, 27, identified as the partner of 2-year-old Grace Thorpe’s mother, was convicted of killing the toddler while she sat in her high chair in November 2020. The incident happened at a home in New Marske, North Yorkshire, England, within moments after Grace’s mother, Alice Quine, left work, leaving Jackson in charge of watching over the child.
BBC reports that Grace was severely injured when first responders arrived at the residence. Jackson didn’t call for help immediately. He wait around 40 minutes before he called 999 and claimed Grace was injured due to “a faulty high chair strap.”
Grace ultimately passed away from her injuries after being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. An autopsy determined that the injuries on the child were intentionally inflicted. A pathologist said the victim had a fractured skull, a fractured leg, and numerous bruises across her body.
Further, the pathologist determined the child had a broken jaw and an “internal tear to her bowel,” Express reports, likely from being kicked and punched in the abdomen.
“Grace loved and trusted Adam Jackson and he abused that in every way possible,” Quine wrote in a victim impact statement. “I trusted him with my whole world and he took it away from me in a split second.”
Quine said she had been dating Jackson for around a year before tragedy struck. DailyMail reports that Quine’s loved ones liked Jackson at first, but later learned about his explosive temper after the pair started living together.
Prosecutor Nick Dry told the court that Jackson would become angry if he didn’t have money to buy marijuana, which had become a daily habit. Grace’s hair samples indicated that she had been exposed to both marijuana and cocaine.
“Today’s guilty plea spares Grace’s family the pain of a lengthy trial but it does not take anything away from the fact that Adam Jackson caused the death of a young toddler who had her whole life ahead of her,” Senior investigating officer Peter Carr said.
Jackson was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
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[Feature Photo: Grace Thorpe/Handout]
