On Monday, 21 November, police were called at around 01:45hrs to a south London hospital after a five-year-old boy was admitted with critical head injuries.

The child had been taken to the hospital by ambulance from an address in Bromley borough at around 20:30hrs the previous evening.

A man was arrested on 21 November and charged the following day with GBH with intent. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on 20 December.

The boy died at hospital on the afternoon of Tuesday, 22 November, and the investigation passed to the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

A post-mortem examination held on 24 November gave cause of death as head injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Lynes, who is leading the investigation, said:

“We are appealing to find any witnesses who were in, or near to, Mountsfield Park, Catford between around 17:15hrs and 18:45hrs on Sunday, 20 November. This is where we believe the victim sustained his injuries.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anything regarding an incident involving a man in the company of a child.”

On Sunday 27 November, officers will be conducting ‘one week on’ appeals in Mountsfield Park.

Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4868. To give information anonymously Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.