The son of a former government minister accused of crushing a toddler to death with his car seat is to face a retrial.

Stephen Waterson is alleged to have fatally crushed three-year-old Alfie Lamb in the footwell of his Audi February 2018.

The boy's mother Adrian Hoare, 23, who is originally from Gravesend and Chatham, was convicted of child cruelty last month but was cleared of manslaughter.

Waterson and Hoare, a former Northfleet School for Girls’ pupil, were returning from a shopping trip with Alfie and friends Marcus Lamb and Emilie Williams.

Alfie died in hospital three days after the incident having suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge facing her partner Waterson, adopted son of Nigel Waterson, the former MP for Eastbourne.

He was found guilty of intimidating a witness, having previously admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after he lied to police about the incident.

Alfie died of “crush asphyxia” after being hit by the seat which at peak would have exerted more than 12-and-a-half stone in pressure.

Waterson and Hoare, both now of Adams Way, Croydon, admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice by making false witness statements to the police in the wake of the death.

Hoare appeared at the Old Bailey today for sentencing which was adjourned until after the retrial.

The trial is due to start on April 23.