Jurors convict grandparents and mother as chilling CCTV unveils horrific abuse of two-year-old

Two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths died alone in hospital, his small body battered, malnourished and broken. When doctors at Glan Clwyd Hospital saw his bruises and brain injury, they could do nothing. His life support was turned off on 16 August 2021. For years, the truth of what happened remained buried—until now.

This week, Ethan’s grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives, were found guilty of murder and child cruelty after a harrowing trial at Mold Crown Court. His mother, Shannon Ives, was convicted of causing or allowing his death and child cruelty. All three knew what was happening. None of them stopped it.

Police were confronted with silence. “Nobody has been prepared to tell the truth,” said Detective Superintendent Chris Bell from North Wales Police. But a silent witness would speak: the family’s own CCTV.

Officers recovered 1,100 hours of security footage covering the interior and exterior of the Ives’ home in Garden City, Flintshire. It showed Ethan being handled like a rag doll. In one clip, his grandfather yanked him off a trampoline by one arm and dragged him across the garden. In another, he was lifted from a car in the same dehumanising way.

Detective Constable Lee Harshey-Jones described the footage as “a detailed high-definition insight into what was happening to Ethan.”

By August, Ethan was emaciated. Doctors counted 40 bruises and marks across his body. A paediatric nurse said his pot belly resembled that of a famine victim. His lips were cracked. He was dehydrated. Neurosurgeons found his brain was catastrophically swollen, possibly due to blunt trauma or violent shaking.

The grandparents claimed ignorance. Michael Ives said he “loved” Ethan. Kerry Ives insisted, “It wasn’t me or Michael.” Both pointed fingers at their daughter Shannon, accusing her of being quick-tempered. She denied harming her son and blamed her father, saying she feared him.

But the jury heard that Shannon did nothing to protect Ethan. She admitted lying to social workers—telling them they were isolating due to COVID or that Ethan was asleep. In truth, they were hiding his condition.

Ethan had been placed on the child protection register. Social workers were supposed to see him every 10 days. But in the crucial final weeks, they were turned away or met with silence. He was only seen once.

On 13 August 2021, Ethan collapsed for five minutes. Instead of calling for help, the family took him shopping. Shannon even cancelled a health visitor’s appointment that day. The next night, he collapsed again. This time, he never woke up.

The courtroom was shown clip after clip of abuse: Ethan held by one arm, standing for hours in corners as punishment, hands on his head. Michael Ives admitted he had been “cruel and neglectful.” Kerry Ives said, “I regret I didn’t do more for the baby.”

But those regrets came too late.

The case deeply affected investigators. “You can’t forget this,” said DC Harshey-Jones. “It stays with you.”

For Det Supt Bell, the betrayal ran deep. “That home should have been the safest place for Ethan. But he was treated like an outsider. Only Michael and Kerry can say why.”