Tragedy Alfie Lamb’s aunt says killer should serve LIFE sentence and now ‘live in fear’ after early release from prison

The boy’s devastated aunt Alfie Lamb said she has “lived in fear” since her nephew’s killer was released from prison early.

Stephen Waterson was jailed for seven and a half years in 2019 after he crushed a three-year-old with a car seat.

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He will be released in 2023 but The Department of Justice confirmed that he has now been released from prison – to the shock of the Alfie family.

That means Waterson only spends 3 years in prison – just under half a prison sentence – due to the 567 days he spent in re-education.

And Samantha Dawson, who gave evidence against her murderous brother in court, is now fearing for her own safety after he is released.

She said: “Stephen should be served life in my opinion.

“He took the life of a child, and he should pay for it.

“In court, I gave evidence against him, and I know I took a risk but I want to do the right thing.

“Imagine my horror when I read in the press this morning that he had been released early. I felt completely ill.

The heartbroken mother of five added: “The police and the prison system don’t even have the transparency to let me know.

“I don’t know about the terms of his license or whether he’s allowed to come near me.

“I’m living in fear now, for myself and for my children. I’m worried he’ll come find me.”

Tragedy Alfie was crushed to death by a car seat after his mother placed him in the footrest of an Audi.

He died within “minutes” of Stephen Waterson’s Audi A4 in February 2018 after the thug was said to have flown into a “childish temper tantrum”.

As the boy sobbed over his “mummy”, Waterson growled at him, “I mustn’t tell a three-year-old what to do” before slamming the seat back again.

Alfie, who weighed 2.5 stone and was just over 3 meters tall, was crushed in a 9.5 cm gap with a weight of 12 stones on his tiny body in the first case of its kind.

We were all in the car and Alfie was crushed at the foot of the well. I was terrified. He actually said: ‘Mom, I can’t move.’

Samantha Dawson

Samantha, Stephen’s half-sister from Blackpool, has a close relationship with Alfie and is haunted by his death.

She said his parents were “rough with him” and that on one occasion she saw them pin Alfie in the parking lot of their car.

“We were all in the car and Alfie was crushed at the bottom of the well. I was terrified. He actually said: ‘Mom, I can’t move.’

“I yelled at Stephen to move him. I didn’t know they made this out of habit – and that would soon kill Alfie.

“When I heard Alfie was dead, my mind went back to the day in the car and I wished I was stronger – can I save him?”

Waterson, 26 years old when jailed, was jailed for manslaughter in November 2019 for seven and a half years.

Alfie’s mother Adrian Hoare was jailed for two years and nine months for cruelty to children.

‘I WOULD I WILL PAY’

Samantha’s step-uncle, Richard, was in a relationship with Adrian, and they had Alfie together.

When their relationship ended, Hoare began a relationship with Stephen Waterson.

In February 2018, Samantha learned from family members that Alfie had died.

She contacted the police and was a prosecution witness at the trial.

The mother said: “I took a big risk against my own brother in court, but I knew I had to tell the truth.

“Now, I fear I will pay the price. It is disgusting that the authorities did not tell me about his release.

“I have called the police to tell them my concerns, but I have not yet been offered protection or support.

“All of this brings back memories of Alfie’s death and it’s very difficult. I think about that boy every day.”

Hoare and Waterson admitted to conspiring to undermine the course of justice by lying to police. Hoare was convicted of child cruelty.

Waterson was found guilty of threatening one witness and Hoare assaulted another witness.

Waterson later admitted to Alfie’s manslaughter by negligence.

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