A mother who danced in a TikTok video just days after fatally beating her three-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Brutal Assault on Defenceless Child
Nicola Priest, 27, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of her daughter Kaylee-Jayde Priest at their flat in Solihull, Birmingham. The court heard how Priest referred to her own child as a "little b****" and a "rat" before launching the vicious assault that would claim the young girl's life.
Kaylee-Jayde was discovered dead at the family home on August 9, 2020, with post-mortem examinations revealing catastrophic chest and abdominal injuries. Medical experts compared the severity of her injuries to those sustained by a child hit by a car travelling at 40mph, or falling three floors onto concrete.
Chilling Social Media Behaviour After Tragedy
During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, it emerged that Priest had posted a dance video on TikTok titled "My Version" with a smiley face emoji just 45 days after her daughter's death. In the clip, she was seen smiling and dancing to music.
When questioned about this behaviour, Priest claimed: "It does not mean I was not broken. Just because I did a few dance videos doesn't mean I didn't miss my little girl."
The court also heard evidence of a disturbing text message exchange between Priest and her partner, Callum Redfern, 26, on July 24, 2020 - just days before Kaylee's death. Priest texted: "I'm gonna kill her... because she keeps leaving the living room or going in the kitchen, so I've paled (hit) her one and smacked her for shi****g in her nappy."
Redfern responded: "Good - give her one from me," to which Priest replied: "I will, babe."
Courtroom Sentencing and Historical Abuse
Mr Justice Foxton QC sentenced both Priest and Redfern, detailing how the fatal assault occurred after Kaylee had interrupted the couple while they were having sex. The judge stated: "No doubt irritated by Kaylee crying, asking to be let out, it interrupted the two of you when you wanted to have sex. You lost your tempers and were parties to the assault which cost Kaylee her life."
Medical examinations revealed that Kaylee had suffered extensive historical injuries including:
- Broken ribs
- Lower leg fractures
- A broken sternum
Priest was also convicted of cruelty to a child relating to these previous injuries, while Redfern was acquitted of this additional charge.
During his police interview, when asked how Kaylee's death had affected him, Redfern callously responded: "It's not my child... it's not really affected me." He received a 14-year prison sentence for his role in the manslaughter.
The court heard that Kaylee had been described as a "lively and happy child" before her tragic death. Mr Justice Foxton emphasised that a prompt call for medical assistance could have saved the young girl's life, but the jury heard evidence suggesting she had been "dead before the call was made".
