Alfie Steele: Birmingham man Dirk Howell found guilty of murder as new photos of killer released

A man from Birmingham has been found guilty of murder following the death of nine-year-old Alfie Steele.

Mother Carla Scott and her partner Dirk Howell, of Newtown, Birmingham, have been found guilty of killing her nine-year-old son Alfie Steele following months of harrowing abuse during lockdown at his home in Droitwich, Worcestershire. The schoolboy died after his body was pulled from a bath having suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of the evil pair in February 2021.

Today (Tuesday, June 13) Howell, who has spent more than half of his life in prison, was found guilty of murder following a six week trial at Coventry Crown Court. Scott was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict following more than ten hours of deliberations. New images of the killer were issued by police following the verdict.

New images of Howell and Scott were issued by police following the verdict.

A court heard Alfie had been tortured and beaten to death after being subjected to a “cruel and sinister” regime of punishment at the property on Vashon Drive. The brutal discipline techniques included Alfie being whipped with belts and flip flops as well as being “dunked” in cold baths.

He was also made to stand outside at night and have water thrown over him. Michelle Heeley KC said Alfie died after being “beaten and deliberately put in a cold bath” and he had been “made to endure a life that no child should lead”.

Shockingly, the “physical and psychological” abuse which led to his murder was able to continue despite Alfie being under a social services protection plan. Legal discussions had also been ongoing to remove him from the house the horrors but it proved too late.

The court heard Scott had Alfie with a man from a previous relationship and she started dating Howell in July 2019 and got engaged six months later. Neighbours raised concerns with the local authorities “within a short period of time of these two getting together”.

Alfie had been under a social services protection plan and legal discussions had taken place on whether to remove him from Scott’s care. It came after teachers raised concerns that Alfie was “constantly hungry” at school in the months before his death.

Footage played in court showed Scott lying to police who were called to the “dishevelled” house telling them Alfie had fallen asleep after banging his head in the bath. She can also be seen telling cops a “fantasy story” as she phoned her boyfriend pretending to not know where he was.

Meanwhile Howell fled the house and police body-cam footage captured him being arrested at Droitwich Railway Station trying to board a train.

On the living room wall in the background are the haunting words: “Family, where life begins.” Scott initially denied Howell had been at the home but later changed her account admitting her boyfriend of two years had been there. Police arrived at the property to find Alfie not breathing and cold to the touch just six minutes after Scott made the call. Both defendants will be sentenced on Thursday morning, 15 June.