A PENSIONER was this afternoon starting a life sentence for murdering his step-son almost 50 years ago by swinging him by the ankles and smashing his head into a fireplace.

David Dearlove, 71, will serve a minimum of 13 years for the killing of toddler Paul Booth in October 1968 at their home in Haverton Hill, near Stockton.

Paul was then 19 months old, and a coroner recorded an open verdict, but a fresh investigation was launched two years ago when Paul's brother contacted police again.

Peter Booth, 53, said he became angry when he saw a picture on social media of the little lad, and the man he remembered seeing hurt him all those years earlier.

His account - and medical evidence from the time - were crucial in securing convictions against the former ICI worker at the end of a Teesside Crown Court trial.

Mr Booth and his sister Stephanie Marron, now 51, both told the jury during the 14-day case that they had also been beaten by Dearlove when they were children.

Dearlove, now a married grandfather and living in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was found guilty of murder and three child cruelty charges after jurors deliberated for more than 15 hours over four days.

Paul died after suffering a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain, and was also covered in bruises to his torso, jaw and feet.

Dearlove claimed that he found Paul unconscious and not breathing after he fell from his bed and cracked his skull on the uncarpeted concrete floor.

He said he had put the toddler to bed and was having a wash when he heard a scream, found the child lying on the floor and tried to give him the kiss of life.

Dearlove and his then-partner, the late Carol Booth, were questioned by police at time, but the investigation was closed until two years ago after Mr Booth's intervention.

Jailing Dearlove, Mr Justice Males said: "You were a young and no doubt immature man.

"You were also a cruel man and you made the lives of those three young children a misery."

He said Paul's short life had been "forgotten" until his brother was "enraged" by seeing the Facebook photograph posted by Dearlove's son, David junior.

Prosecutor Richard Wright, QC, said: "The police interviewed Peter as a witness for the very first time in 2015; he had not been asked to give any account in 1968.

"What he said in that interview is what has led us here, 50 years on, to the trial of David Dearlove for the murder of his step-son.

"Peter told the police that the death of Paul was not the result of an accidental fall out of bed.

"Through a gap in the door into the sitting room, he had seen David Dearlove swinging Paul Booth around whilst holding on to his ankles and had watched as his stepfather smashed the little boy's head into the fire surround, causing the fatal injury to his skull by the impact."

A statement released by the family following the case said Paul would have celebrated his 50th birthday this year but instead he lies in an unmarked grave which they cannot find.

In the statement released outside court, they said: “Thinking about this makes us sad, as Paul would have been a man, no doubt married and more than likely with children of his own.

“However, sadly Paul was not given the opportunity to live his life due to the cruel and wicked actions of David Dearlove.

“This was a man who entered Paul’s life and was supposedly to act as a father figure to Paul.

“A man, who was supposed to care for him and look after him.

“Instead of doing this he ended Paul’s life in the most violent way.

“The actions of David Dearlove on 1st October 1968 not only physically killed Paul but also destroyed his memory.

“He was buried into an unmarked grave the location of which remains unknown and he was not spoken about for many years.

“However, we now believe as a family that this court case has shown everyone that Paul did live a life and that his memory will never be forgotten.

“Naturally we are delighted as a family that justice has now been done, even if it did take 47 years to achieve it.

“David Dearlove is now behind bars.

“This has been a long journey to get to this point and we would like to thank Cleveland Police and those that assisted in bringing the case to court.

“We now hope to move on with our lives, and with justice having been served, hope that Paul can now rest in peace."

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “This awful crime robbed a defenceless child of his life almost 50 years ago – and Dearlove probably though he’d long got away with his actions.

“As a step-father he had a duty to protect Paul Booth and he abused the trust placed in him in the most horrific way.

“This is a tragic case which will have had a devastating effect on a whole family, some of whom are not here to see justice finally served.”

Detective Inspector Mark Dimelow, from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Incident Team, said: “This has been a complex inquiry over the last two years which has resulted in justice finally being done for Paul Booth and his family. “The inquiry has been challenging due to its historic nature, however, it has shown the value of reporting of such incidents, no matter the passage of time.

“I want to pay tribute to Paul’s family and other witnesses who provided such an emotive testimony and I praise their bravery in having to relive events from 50 years ago.”