MORE details of the criminal past of Dirk Howell who murdered nine-year-old Alfie Steele have been revealed. 

As we previously revealed Howell has spent 22 years of his life in prison before he was jailed for the murder of the nine-year-old last year.

Howell was partner to Alfie's mum Carla Scott, of Vashon Drive, Droitwich, who was also jailed last year for her role.

Prior to the murder conviction Howell had racked up 32 convictions for 95 offences between 1994 and 2021. 

His record includes convictions for battery, criminal damage, theft and burglary, public order, 11 drug offences and one offence of having a bladed article.

Worcester News: PAST: The criminal past of Dirk HowellPAST: The criminal past of Dirk Howell (Image: West Mercia Police)

On Friday, (January 26), Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership released a Child Safeguarding Practice Review.

It revealed more on Howell's criminality and general anti-social behaviour while he was in the relationship with Scott and involved in Alfie's life. 

 

Details revealed included: 

 

  • August 2019 - Subject to bail conditions in relation to a burglary where firearms had been stolen in August 2019.
  • November 2019 - Concerns shared by the neighbours that Howell was seen behaving cruelly to Alfie. Howell found to be in the home by the police. Howell threatened neighbours with violence for sharing concerns.
  • February 2020 - There were concerns from neighbours about anti-social behaviour by Scott and Dirk Howell in the form of parties and loud music and Howell’s aggressiveness in response to complaints.
  • March 2020 - There was evidence of Howell being drunk and aggressive to Alfie in the community.
  • April 2020 - Concerns from neighbours about Alfie and Howell seen behaving inappropriately and aggressively to him.
  • June 2020 - Howell caught shoplifting on two occasions. Was extremely verbally aggressive on the first occasion and on the second he punched a female shop assistant in the face. He was arrested and would be charged later.
  • August 2020 - Howell threatens to burn neighbours home down for sharing concerns.
  • October 2020 - Howell convicted of physical assault of a train guard. Two further offences were being investigated: the burglary and the assault of a shop assistant. He was sentenced to a community order and made subject to electronic monitoring with a curfew. This was never put in place, despite the multi-agency group believing that this provided some certainty about where he was.

 

Alfie died at his home in Vashon Drive, Droitwich - where he lived with Scott - on February 18, 2021, after suffering abuse and cruelty inflicted by the pair over an extended period of time. 

Howell tried to flee the scene attempting to board a train at Droitwich Railway Station when police caught him.

In astonishing scenes while giving evidence during the trial last year Howell launched into rants interrupting barristers and even the judge. 

When his co-accused was giving evidence at one point Howell walked out, returning to be told off by the judge who had run out of patience with him.