16 March 2023 , 18:01
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The heartbroken birth mum of tragic toddler Harvey Borrington has described him as "my beautiful little boy" in a touching tribute.
Addressing the court while Harvey's cruel stepmother and killer Leila Borrington sat silent in the dock, Katie Holroyd spoke of her memories of her son.
She fought back tears in the witness stand at Nottingham Crown Court today as she said: "He was everything to me."
Katie said Harvey was also a "treasured grandson" to her parents Sandra and Alan Hoyroyd, who called him their "little man".
Borrington, 23, was found guilty of his manslaughter in February, but cleared of Harvey's murder.
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The court heard how she'd filmed the tot dying on the kitchen floor then sent a chilling text message.
She has been jailed for 15 years.
Harvey enjoyed a Babyccino with his mum in footage shot before his death (Katie Holroyd/Nottinghamshire Live)Harvey, who had non-verbal autism, was just three-years-old when he sustained fatal head injuries, including a fractured skull and bleed to the brain in August 7, 2021, reports NottinghamshireLive.
He suffered the injuries at Borrington's home in Jacksdale, near Mansfield.
In a heartbreaking video, released after the sentencing, Harvey is seen the picture of health sipping on a 'Babyccino' and eating cake from Costa coffee as he laughs with mum Katie in the car.
Devastated Katie told the court earlier today: "I wanted to write a treasured memory we have with Harvey, but they are all treasured.
"Even the little things that most people would take for granted like when he would want me to pick him up and dance around the kitchen."
Harvey was just three when he was killed in 2021 (PA)
Leila Borrington was convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder (Nottinghamshire Police/PA)Out of all the memories she said her favourite after they had a long walk up the cliffs in Matlock and she had to carry Harvey most of the way.
"We sat and had a picnic and watched the boats, he loved them and didn't want to leave. He just stood smiling while looking at them," she continued.
"We finally got him to carry on walking," Katie added.
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Harvey had chocolate ice-cream and they ended the day playing on the park for an hour.
Harvey died two days after paramedics found him unresponsive (Nottingham Post/BPM Media)"Since the 9th August, 2021, not a day has gone by where we haven't woken up broken by the thought that will will never hold him again, hear his laugh or watch him grow up," she said.
"Harvey's life was cruelly ended when he was only three years old, killed by the very person who was trusted to care for him and protect him.
"To this day I cannot bear to think of him lying on that floor dying with her filming him and delaying getting medical help for him.
"To have it confirmed that Harvey, before his death, had been assaulted by Leila Borrington will be a lifelong torment for now. A recurring nightmare which I will never be able to wake from.
Borrington was jailed at Nottingham Crown Court (Nottingham Post/BPM Media)"My beautiful boy couldn't talk, he couldn't articulate the suffering he had to endure. He couldn't tell me he didn't want to go.
"Leila knew this when she abused him and then killed him in a violent attack.
"Since that dreadful day in August 2021, we have sat and listened to others talk about his 'difficulties', his 'conditions' and his 'diagnosis'.
"Those differences, however, were what made Harvey so very special.
"He was the most loving boy anyone could have wished for, and we will always treasure the short time we got to spend with him.
"What has been so difficult is the fact that Leila Borrington lied about what she did to Harvey.
"She chose to lie, no doubt to try and save herself. However, this selfish and cruel act meant as a family we had to endure weeks of listening to medical evidence about the horrific injuries Harvey sustained.
"She knew what she had done to him, and she could have said so from the start. Instead, she made the decision to lie which increased our pain and heartache further.
Katie also said the evidence given by the doctors was "really, really hard to listen to and, at times, me and my mum had to leave court"- as they could not bear to hear the evidence about what happened.
She also said she found the evidence from two pathologists "particularly harrowing".
"Knowing parts of my baby were removed and sent around the country to establish what happened all because she chose to lie.
"I will never be able to explain and no one will ever be about to understand what this means to me as Harvey's mum".
She spoke of the effect on her parents and how her father, Alan, has withdrawn from life, "his purpose as protector of the family has been lost. I don't recognise him anymore, our loss is beyond words."
She also said there was no sentence that can be given to Borrington that will fix the harm done.
"The pain, the suffering, the loss that we have to deal with as a family will continue for the rest of our lives."