Probation officials reported a “high risk of domestic violence” from the man who killed 5-year-old Alex Malcolm, a month before he beat the child of his partner to death in Catford after he lost his shoe.

Mother Lilya Breha told the Lambeth and Bromley Child Safeguarding Board she would have finished the relationship with Marvyn Iheanacho if she “had known the truth about him.”

Iheanacho had a history of violence and had spent time behind bars for a string of violent offences including beating his ex-girlfriend.

But probation officials failed to warn Ms Breha of Iheanacho’s history of violence, or that he was banned from having unsupervised contact with children under 16.

This was despite officials suspecting he lived with Ms Breha and her son.

The damning report stresses probation officials should make a full assessment of violent offenders’ living situation.

It also suggests an audit of information sharing between probation and social services.

Alex’s father told the board his son feared his mother’s partner, had bruises from him and was “nervous and wary” of people who looked like Iheanacho.

But he did not tell authorities because he was scared he would be stopped from seeing his son.

Alex was beaten unconscious by Iheanacho in Mountsfield Park, Catford, after he lost his trainer.

Iheanacho carried the unresponsive five-year-old home over his shoulder, and allegedly assaulted Ms Breha when she was calling 999.

Alex was taken to hospital but suffered severe damage to his brain, abdominal bleeding and bruises to his face and died two days later.

Iheanacho was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life in prison in July 2017.

Alex was described by his nursey as a “quiet, unassuming child” who was at his happiest when he was learning outdoors, loved reading and was artistic.