Jacob Lennon: Mother and partner jailed for toddler’s violent death in Putney

A mother and her partner have been jailed for their role in the death of a 15-month-old boy who they subjected to weeks of abuse and violent assault.

Jake Drummond, 33, of Tunworth Crescent, Roehampton, was jailed for life with a minimum 32-year term for Jacob Lennon’s murder, in Putney, and wounding with intent.

Louise Lennon, 32, of Ingrave Street, Battersea was handed 10 years for causing or allowing his death and child cruelty.

The pair were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday May 26.

Warning, this article contains distressing details

The court heard how the investigation began following a call to officers at 6:06 am on August 27 2019 to a residential address in Putney.

The London Ambulance Service informed police that they were responding to reports of a child in cardiac arrest.

Little Jacob, who was aged 15 months, was taken to a west London hospital. He was sadly pronounced dead at 7:22am.

A post-mortem examination took place on August 29 2019 at Great Ormond Street Hospital. This found traumatic brain injuries, some of which were from a period of days or weeks earlier. The cause of death was a fatal brain injury inflicted some three to five hours before Jacob’s death.

In addition to this, there were 20 further marks of recent injury on Jacob’s head, face and neck, 11 to his arms, seven to his legs and seven to his body.

His genitals were also found to have suffered severe injuries. Lennon told officers that Drummond claimed to her that these injuries had been caused by another child using a toy plastic knife.

The examination established that Jacob had been subjected to days and weeks of abuse and violent assault.

When police arrived, Drummond and Lennon told officers that they had gone in to check on Jacob at about 6am. Drummond, who was Lennon’s boyfriend, said he had gone in and noticed he was not breathing so started CPR.

Lennon told the officers that they had been away the previous week on holiday and Jacob had fallen over in a playground and hit his head on a kerb, causing an injury. She stated that this had not caused him any issues.

When interviewed, Drummond said he and Lennon were asleep and had woken to the sound of a loud bang and a little squeal. They both ran into the bedroom and found Jacob face down on the floor and unresponsive.

Police said he fabricated a story to officers about how Jacob got the injuries.

Det Ch Insp Wayne Jolley said: “This has been a difficult case for everyone involved and one of the most distressing in my 30 years in the police. I would like to thank my team and all those who supported the prosecution for their professionalism and diligence.

“Drummond did not show any remorse throughout the trial and had offered no explanation as to why he committed such heinous acts. The sentence passed today truly reflects the utterly vile way that this defenceless child lost his life at the hands of Jake Dummond.

"As his mother, Louise Lennon should have been Jacob’s protector and the sentence she received today reflects how she unfortunately failed at that. She prioritised her relationship with Drummond over the life of her child."

“This sentencing will undoubtedly bring the raw emotions of Jacob’s murder back to those who loved him; while his death will continue to have a devastating impact on them I can only hope that seeing those responsible jailed will afford them some sense of justice.”