A man who murdered a toddler by repeatedly punching her has been jailed for life.

Ella-Rose Clover was just 22 months old when she died from abdominal injuries last year.

Michael Wild, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, denied murder but was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court following an eight-week trial.

He was sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 20 years for the death of Ella-Rose.

The court heard that Wild had assaulted the toddler on previous occasions when she was left in the care of him and his partner, Sharleen Hughes.

Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Show all 7 1 /7 Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Michael Wild, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, has been jailed for life for punching 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover, pictured with her mother Pagan Clover, to death. PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Undated family handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Ella-Rose Clover who was murdered by Michael Wild. Wild, 30, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years at Liverpool Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder following an eight-week trial. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 3, 2019. See PA story COURTS Ella. Photo credit should read: Family handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Family handout PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Undated family handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Pagan Clover with her daughter Ella-Rose Clover who was murdered by Michael Wild. Wild, 30, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years at Liverpool Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder following an eight-week trial. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 3, 2019. See PA story COURTS Ella. Photo credit should read: Family handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Family handout PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Undated family handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Ella-Rose Clover who was murdered by Michael Wild. Wild, 30, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years at Liverpool Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder following an eight-week trial. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 3, 2019. See PA story COURTS Ella. Photo credit should read: Family handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Family handout PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Undated family handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Ella-Rose Clover who was murdered by Michael Wild. Wild, 30, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years at Liverpool Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder following an eight-week trial. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 3, 2019. See PA story COURTS Ella. Photo credit should read: Family handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Family handout PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Michael Wild, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, who has been sentenced for the murder of 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover. PA Man jailed for life after punching toddler Ella-Rose Clover to death Sharlene Hughes, who is due to be sentenced for causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice. Hughes' partner Michael Wild, 30, was given a life sentence at Liverpool Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder of 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover following an eight-week trial. PA

On 21 January last year, he was left alone with Ella-Rose while Hughes ran errands and when she returned at about 1.30pm the toddler was collapsed on the sofa.

The youngster was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital but died from abdominal injuries.

In a statement read out to the court, Ella-Rose’s mother Pagan Clover, 26, said Hughes, who was Ella-Rose’s godmother, had become a paid carer for her daughter while she was at work.

The single mother, who has an older daughter, Freyah, and now a baby son, Harry, said in the months leading up to Ella-Rose’s death the toddler was taken to hospital with unexplained bruising.

Sharlene Hughes is due to be sentenced for causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice after the death of 22-month-old Ella-Rose Clover. (Greater Manchester Police)

She said: “Sharleen came with me to some of the hospital and doctors’ appointments, Mick even came along and saw me begging for answers from the hospital staff.

“All along he knew what was going on and it sickens me now to think that he sat there watching me and seeing Ella suffer.

“Sharleen, my cousin, my confidant and my friend who I trusted implicitly and who Ella loved, and Mick, her boyfriend, who always seemed so nice and kind – they betrayed me and worst of all they betrayed Ella in the worst possible way.”

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Icah Peart QC, defending, said Wild was of previous good character and had been suffering from anxiety and depression.

He said the defendant had shown remorse after Ella Rose’s death, but judge Mr Justice King said he did not accept that.

Sentencing Wild, the judge said: “This killing was the culmination of a course of conduct on your part going back many months.”

He said he had no doubt the toddler died after Wild repeatedly punched her, causing internal injuries to her abdomen.

He added: “The likelihood is you lost your temper with the child when she, in your sole care, required her nappy being changed on more than one occasion over that period.”

Wild showed no reaction in the dock while Ms Clover, who was in court with about a dozen family members, walked out after the sentence was passed.