A MONSTER who beat a toddler to death has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years.

Jonathan Simpson, of no fixed address but from Winsford, Cheshire, was meant to be looking after his girlfriend’s 22-month-old son Jacob Marshall while she visited the hairdressers.

Instead, he subjected the youngster to a brutal attack – inflicting injuries similar to those that would have been inflicted in a high-speed car crash.

The 25-year-old was found unanimously guilty of murder by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday, after three hours and 49 minutes of deliberations following a 12-day trial.

Simpson returned to the same court today, Thursday, for sentencing.

Subjecting him to a life imprisonment, the honorary recorder of Liverpool judge Andrew Menary said: “This was a dreadful offence committed against a defenceless child.

“The level of violence you used against him was truly appalling.

“You were effectively living with the mum and her two young sons.

“All the indications are that you got on well, and she has said that you were kind to her and her children.

“Jacob has been described as a bundle of energy, a delightful young child who was full of life.

“He was a perfectly normal child with a zest for life.

“Although she will, I have no doubt, always blame herself, she could not have known that there was a much darker side to your personality.

“You quite deliberately used extreme violence against Jacob, causing a catastrophic injury to his head.

“There was evidence of widespread trauma to his body.

“Only you know precisely what you did that afternoon – you have chosen, cruelly and cowardly, to keep that a murky secret.

“Instead, you have lied and lied again about the cause of Jacob’s death.”

Jurors had previously heard that Jacob’s mum left the youngster with Simpson at her home in Liverpool at around 3pm on Friday, July 12 2019.

Around 40 minutes later, the defendant approached a neighbour asking if he could do CPR.

Inside, he discovered the tot with a ‘massive lump’ on his head.

Simpson had banged the toddler’s head on the kitchen floor in a fit of rage, and had not even called an ambulance yet.

After being prompted to do so, he dialled 999 before going outside for a cigarette.

Jacob died late the following day, having suffered a ‘catastrophic brain injury’ during the assault.

The killer initially claimed that the beloved baby boy had fallen off the sofa, then changed his story and said that he had fallen down the stairs.

Judge Menary added: “Frankly, I will assume that you were acting in temper and rage – if you weren’t, if you were as cold and deliberate as your appeared and if this was calculated violence, it would be an unspeakably wicked thing for you to have done.

“You have not shown a jot of regret or remorse.

“It must have been obvious to you that Jacob was badly hurt, and you failed to seek emergency medical attention – you delayed seeking any help for a significant period, and even then there was no sense of urgency on your part.”

He then told the youngster’s family: “No sentence I can pass and nothing I can say will begin to repair the damage caused or fill the void in your lives, but I hope that in some very small way Jacob has had justice.”

Paying tribute after his death, Jacob’s heartbroken family said: “All of our worlds have been crushed and our lives will never be the same again.

"We will talk of Jacob every day and of all the amazing memories we all got to make with him.

"He will live on in us all forever, our gorgeous baby Jacob.”