A 17-month-old toddler had cocaine and cannabis in his body when he was killed by his mother's boyfriend, a court heard today.

A 17-month-old toddler had cocaine and cannabis in his body when he was killed by his mother's boyfriend, a court heard today.

Finley Thomas had been exposed to the cocktail of drugs by his mother and her partner before he was allegedly beaten to death.

His mother Chloe Thomas, 25, had become hooked on illegal drugs and diazepam during her 'infatuation' with boyfriend Sean Buckley, 28, a murder trial heard.

A post mortem examination on Finley's body showed he was contaminated with the same drugs.

Buckley is accused of murdering the baby boy while he and Thomas are also accused of repeatedly physically abusing him during his short life.

Roger Thomas, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: 'These two people were responsible for the care and upbringing of this child.

'Allowing him to suffer drug contamination is evidence of a lack of care and a lack of concern amounting to neglect.'

Neighbours and friends described her appearing 'spaced out' in the weeks leading up to her son's death - and on occasions she struggled to even speak.

The trial heard messages on Buckley's phone showed he had ran up drug debts from buying and selling both cannabis and cocaine.

Toxicological examinations on the lovers after Finley's death suggested 'a considerable use of drugs' in the family home in the months leading up to the baby's death.

He said text messages sent from hospital by Thomas to Buckley hours after he allegedly attacked Finley showed her 'infatuation' took priority over her responsibility to her baby.

The pair exchanged messages to 'get their story straight' about how Finley 'fell down the stairs', as well as how he had got several other earlier injuries which were found on examination.

Mr Thomas said: 'It summarises her view of Buckley. She saw no wrong in him and she put the interest of her child second to that of Buckley, and ignored what was plainly in front of her eyes.

'It was said she had been a good mother, but her affection was subordinate to her desires for Mr Buckley.'

The court was also shown a collapsible chair found in the couple's garden, which Mr Thomas said was used to kill the infant.

He played a DVD to the court showing how meshing on the chair matched up with marks found on the baby's scalp.

Mr Thomas said: 'The death was caused by Buckley on a defenceless 17-month-old child, with what we claim was quite senseless violence, by shaking him and forcing him against a chair.

'We submit there was great tension in the household, over money, tension between each other over Buckley's habits, and claims about other women.

'Tensions had exploded. Chloe Thomas came out of the house and the only other person left is the crying child.'

Finley suffered 'catastrophic' head injuries after allegedly being attacked by Buckley at his home.

After his death doctors found evidence of previous multiple bleeds and injuries to his head and spine which were consistent with 'non accidental injury.'

Buckley denies murder. He and girlfriend Thomas, both of Tonypandy, Rhondda, both deny cruelty to a young person under 16.

The trial expected to last five weeks continues at Cardiff Crown Court.

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