A devastated father has described the 'massive void' left in his life after a sadistic thug murdered his two-year-old son by repeatedly punching him in the stomach and stamping on his head.

Chevaze Sanchez McGregor, 27, inflicted a string of injuries on Jeremiah Regis-Ngaujah before delivering a fatal blow which ruptured the boy's intestines.

The toddler - known as 'little smiler' - was left 'broken and battered' with more than 100 injuries including a skull fracture and a bite wound.

Medics attempted to save the boy's life but he suffered an 'agonising' death 24 hours after the attack.

Chevaze McGregor (left) who murdered his partner's two-year-old son Jeremiah Regis-Ngaujah (right) after stamping on his head in a fit of rage has been jailed for 21 years

Today, McGregor - who believed pain could teach children right from wrong - was jailed for life when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court.

Jeremiah's mother Sindyann Regis, 26, who had previously admitted allowing the death of a child, was sentenced to three years and four months.

Her not guilty plea to murder was accepted by the prosecution.

Jeremiah's devastated father Sahr Nguajah described his feelings of 'guilt and self-blame' after the toddler's death in November last year.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Nguajah said he could not describe how he felt about losing his son, describing him as a 'happy, cheerful' young boy.

The electrical engineer said: 'As a parent you assume the natural role of being the protector, although unable to protect against illness you should be able to protect your children from violence within the home.

'I was unable to protect Jeremiah and this lack of being able to protect him increases my guilt and self-blame.

Jeremiah's mother Sindyann Regis (pictured), 26, who had previously admitted allowing the death of a child, was also sentenced to three years and four months

'His early departure has left a massive void in my life.

'He was loved by all that knew and came into contact with him in his very short life.

'Jeremiah will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

'I wasn't ready to say goodbye and neither was Genevieve, but our comfort is that Jeremiah will always remain in our hearts forever and ever, our loss is heaven's gain.

'Losing your child is hard enough to deal with, but losing them through murder is just inconceivable.'

He had earlier told the court: 'He was my beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him.

'I had many hopes and dreams for Jeremiah, for example going to nursery where he would make new friends and start to learn new things about young life.

'Then starting school wearing his first school uniform and beginning his journey as a young child creating wonderful memories, learning about love and laughter along the way.

'I will never know what Jeremiah may have become as a young man.

'I know he loved to laugh and already at such a young age he loved to sing and dance. He found so much pleasure and joy in music.

'He loved it if you sung to him and would join in.

'Jeremiah was everything you could hope for and so much more.

'He was happy, cheerful and full of mischief.

'He had an inquisitive nature and was affectionate and his affections for the people in his life had no limits.

'He had an infectious smile, lovely big dark eyes and curly hair and loved his sister, Genevieve.'

Doctors who examined Jeremiah's body became suspicious of the injuries he had suffered, including this adult-sized bite mark

During the hearing, the court was told how Jeremiah was born in February 2014 but his parents had separated before the birth.

Regis, who was living in London at the time, had been brought up in the Pentecostal church where she met McGregor while seven months' pregnant.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, said the pair were initially just friends but it developed into a relationship and McGregor was present at the birth of Jeremiah.

But the relationship came to an end and Regis moved away. The couple stayed in touch and in June 2016 they rekindled their relationship.

During the hearing, the court heard how McGregor used physical chastisement to 'toughen children up'.

The thug used his fists, a belt and a rod to discipline Jeremiah and three other children.

The court heard how on the night of Jeremiah's death an ambulance was called to the child's home in Wednesfield, West Midlands, after Regis knocked on neighbours' doors claiming her son was unwell.

Police released CCTV footage of McGregor flying into a rage just months before he killed Jeremiah

In the disturbing video McGregor tears his own t-shirt from the neck to the waist

McGregor then approached the ambulance carrying Jeremiah. The child had no pulse and was not breathing.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead the next morning.

The court heard how doctors who examined Jeremiah's body became suspicious of the injuries he had including an adult-sized bite mark.

NSPCC: 'JEREMIAH SUFFERED HORRIFIC CATALOGUE OF INJURIES'

An NSPCC spokesman said: 'It is deeply shocking that someone who should have protected and nurtured this defenceless young child could inflict such terrible pain and take his life. 'Jeremiah suffered a horrific catalogue of injuries, and it is only right his mother and stepfather face the full force of the law for the sickening crimes they have admitted. 'It is vital that people are alert to the warning signs that a child is being abused or neglected, and that they report their concerns - it could save a child from serious harm. 'They can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, text 88858 or email Advertisement

Police were alerted and a post-mortem examination revealed that Jeremiah died from peritonitis - inflammation of the stomach tissue - as a result of blunt force trauma to his abdomen.

In police interviews, McGregor - who claimed not to remember hitting Jeremiah around the head, produced a letter in which he stated: 'Sindyann does not discipline him so it must be me.

'The job of the parent is to correct. God gave us pain so we know to do the right thing.'

As Miss Howes outlined the boy's injuries, Regis could be heard sobbing in a room beside the dock and was allowed to leave court.

She described how he suffered numerous rib fractures, a bite mark to his chest, bruising and brain injury.

Concluding her summary of the events leading up to the death, Miss Howes told the court: 'This is a case of a callous, sustained regime of brutality against a defenceless two-year-old in his own home.

'Jeremiah was left broken and battered with life-threatening injuries and as his life ebbed away moment by agonising moment, Chevaze McGregor stood by and watched, knowing full well what he had done.'

The court heard how even the investigating police officers were shocked by the brutality inflicted upon Jeremiah.

The court also heard how Regis told police that her partner had 'anger management difficulties'.

During the hearing, the court heard how McGregor, pictured left in a shocking CCTV video, used physical chastisement to 'toughen children up'

In the shocking video, McGregor then hurls himself onto the floor in a fit of rage

Detective Inspector Hines added: 'Evidence shows McGregor (pictured rear) was prone to bouts of extreme loss of temper'

'He would get so angry and everyone was a bit scared,' she said.

Following the hearing, police released CCTV footage of an incident at McGregor's father's home which showed the murderer having an angry outburst.

In the disturbing video he goes on to tear his own t-shirt from the neck to the waist before hurling himself face-down onto the floor.

Detective Inspector Warren Hines, from the West Midlands Police homicide team, said: 'The death of one so young is always tragic.

'But it's horrifying to think of the amount of violence and suffering this child must have endured at the hands of someone he should have been able to trust.

'McGregor was a controlling, manipulative and violent individual.

'He believed in chastising children physically and used a belt, a rod and his fists to cause the terrible injuries to Jeremiah.

'We believe the fatal assault was inflicted a couple of days before, and Jeremiah was left in agony until he succumbed to peritonitis.

'Evidence shows that Jeremiah had defensive wounds to his hands and arms, which shows he tried to shield himself from the beatings.'

Detective Inspector Warren Hines said McGregor, pictured in the hoodie, was a controlling, manipulative and violent individual'

Medics attempted to save Jeremiah's life but he suffered an 'agonising' death 24 hours after the attack by McGregor, pictured with his top off during a bout of rage which was caught on camera

Detective Inspector Hines added: 'Evidence shows McGregor was prone to bouts of extreme loss of temper.

'Sindyann must have known what was happening - we have been told Jeremiah whimpered when McGregor was around - yet she allowed him sole charge and discipline of the toddler.

'Parents are duty-bound to care for children and to nurture them into adulthood.

'The home should be a sanctuary of safety, reassurance and happiness, not a place where they are brutalised and beaten.

'Jeremiah must have spent his short life absolutely terrified.'

Paul Reid from the CPS added: 'Throughout his short life, Jeremiah had been exposed to pain, hurt and suffering inflicting by Chevaze McGregor.

'Sindyann Regis accepted that there was a significant risk of serious harm being caused to her son by McGregor and that she was aware of the risk. She failed to protect him from that risk which ultimately led to his death.

'In the early hours of Sunday morning McGregor had become angry with the child and taken him into the bedroom.

'Two loud banging noises were heard and when Regis opened the door she saw McGregor holding the crying child and shouting at him.

'He told her to close the door, but instead of intervening and stopping him, she closed the door and just walked away.

'Our thoughts are today with those affected by Jeremiah's very sad and untimely death.'