Baby ‘shaken to death with devastating force after being abused by mum & stepdad in cruel 7-month torture campaign’
A BABY was shaken to death with “devastating” force after suffering seven months of abuse by his mum and stepdad, a court heard.
Charlie Roberts died after he was attacked so violently his brain moved in his skull – causing “irreparable damage”.
The one-year-old was in the sole care of stepdad Christopher Stockton at the time of the horror, jurors heard.
But in the seven months leading to his death, little Charlie was allegedly subjected to a campaign of abuse at the hands of Stockton and his mum Paula Roberts.
Teesside Crown Court heard staff at his nursery had raised concerns when they noticed bruising on the tot.
Social services were called after Charlie was rushed to hospital with to his ear, eye and head but no action was taken, it was said.
Jurors heard the baby had injuries to his genitals that were likely to have been caused by a “violent pulling force”.
Roberts’ brother also noticed marks on both of his ears but the mum, 41, claimed he had been sleep-walking.
But the court heard she was “concerned” about her baby and partner and even installed a spy camera hidden in a plant pot above his cot.
On January 12, a “sleep-deprived” Stockton, 38, was left to look after Charlie by Roberts at their home in Darlington.
The court heard he had spent the night before playing on his xBox and making an online Iceland order.
The maximum three hours sleep Stockton got were significant “in terms of fatigue and patience and ability to control one’s temper and emotions”, jurors heard.
Shortly after Roberts had left the pair alone, he called 999 to report Charlie had become “lifeless and floppy”.
Stockton claimed the youngster had choked on a biscuit but medics could find nothing when they checked his airways.
Nicholas Lumley KC, prosecuting, said: “Christopher Stockton was alone in the house with Charlie.
“In a very short time – for that is all it takes to lose one’s temper – he must have assaulted Charlie by shaking or throwing him with considerable force.
“What happened to Charlie once his mother had closed the door on him was no accident. Much as it may have been quickly and bitterly regretted, it was no accident.”
The court was told Charlie’s horrific injuries were so “devastating” he likely would have collapsed “almost immediately”.
He tragically couldn’t be saved and died in hospital the following day.
Medics could find no underlying health conditions, which led them to believe his cause of death was the “application of severe force” that caused “his head to rotate or be thrown about”, it was said.
“Christopher Stockton was not Charlie’s father but he was a father and he had been the partner of Paula Roberts for some time. He knew young Charlie well enough.
“He was in a trusted position of responsibility, when Charlie’s mother left the two of them alone in the house that morning, entrusting her son to his care.
“The prosecution say that Christopher Stockton – and nobody else – is responsible for Charlie’s death – that he must have been shaken or thrown with such force, violently and deliberately being harmed.”
Stockton denies murder and child neglect, while Roberts has pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglect.
The trial continues.