Social workers and health visitors regularly saw injuries on John Smith but they never took him to a doctor or to a place of safety.

John moved in with the McWilliams on June 24, 1999, but more than a month later problems were manifest.

The McWilliams concocted a cover story that John was fearful of being moved to another home and was upset by visits from previous foster parents and his birth parents.

The diary of tragedy:

August 6: A social worker for the couple, John Barrow, was told John had started "throwing himself around" and the McWilliams were "worried about bruises he kept getting".

August 24: David Pamely, John's social worker, was deeply shocked when he saw a massive "carpet burn" across one side of John's face, facial scratches, marks on his neck and bruises down his spine. John "sobbed his heart out" on Mr Pamely's lap.

August 25: A community family worker visited and was impressed with the McWilliams. A health worker came the same day and, like others, accepted the McWilliams' story that John was self harming.

October 11: Mr Pamely was informed John had injured his penis but the McWilliams did not tell him of a cut.

November 4: After the McWilliams had been granted a £300-a-week allowance, Mr Pamely visited and noticed bruising on John's face. He accepted the boy had fallen down stairs.

November 5: Mr Pamely found a new black eye and other injuries. He was told John had deliberately banged his head on a table.

November 16: Mr Pamely saw a recent bruise on John's jaw, finger marks on his cheek and a swollen lip.

November 22: Mr Pamely was told John had hit Michelle McWilliam and she had been forced to restrain him.

December 3: Mr Barrow was told by McWilliam he "got no pleasure from John". The boy reportedly punched Michelle McWilliam, splitting her lip, that night.

December 9: Mr Pamely was told about "copy-cat" self harming by a second child the McWilliams were adopting.

December 13: Michelle McWilliam called Mr Pamely and told him John was "bashing" himself.

December 20: Mr Barrow visited and found bruises and marks on John's cheek. He was asked not to comment for fear of upsetting John. He later told Mr Pamely: "You need to see his face, it's a mess."

Finally, the alarm bells rang and Mr Pamely suggested John should be interviewed alone. Mr Barrow's brief interview, in which John said he hurt himself, resulted in no medical assistance being sought. Mr Pamely visited later and was shocked at the state of John's face.

December 21: Mr Pamely and Mr Barrow agreed to discuss the case in the New Year. Mr Pamely reported Mr Barrow had said the injuries were compatible with self-inflicted injuries.

Health visitor Denissa Phillips attended the house and assumed social workers were supporting John. The same day John twice "fell" down stairs.

John was brainstem dead two days later on December 23. Neighbours heard banging noises "like a basketball" in the McWilliams' house.

Michelle McWilliam said she found him unconscious in bed and called an ambulance. Experts testified John had probably been shaken and hit against a hard surface.

December 24: John died in King's College Hospital, London.