Man who killed five-month-old stepson in ‘extremely violent’ attack is jailed

A man who murdered his girlfriend’s five-month-old son in an ‘extremely violent attack’ while she was at work has been jailed for life.

Thomas Morgan, 29, shook Jensen-Lee Dougal at the family home in Swansea after losing his temper following an argument with his ex-partner, Georgia Griffiths, on March 30, 2024.

Jensen-Lee’s catalogue of injuries – including brain damage, numerous fractures and extensive retinal bleeding to both of his eyes – were described by experts as they worst they have ever seen.

Jailing him for at least 19 years today, Mrs Justice Stacey told Morgan: ‘[Jensen-Lee’s mum Jordan] Dougal felt lucky that you had come into their life and trusted you with Jensen-Lee.

‘We have no way of knowing exactly what happened as you have lied to the police and to everyone that you have spoken to since.

‘What we do know is that… You shook Jensen-Lee so violently that you caused extensive injuries.

‘The violent shaking with Jensen-Lee’s head moving back and forward quickly accelerating and decelerating may have been very brief, but it was hard enough to cause his extensive internal head injuries that caused his death.’

In a tearful victim impact statement, MsDougal told the court she suffered ‘overwhelming grief, trauma, and emotional pain’ following the death of her son.

She said her pain was made worse when callous Morgan held a gender reveal party with his new partner on the weekend of the anniversary of her son’s death.

Ms Dougal, 24, said: ‘I never had the chance to hear my son say he loved me and I never heard him call me Mammy.

‘I will never see him take his first step, go to school or see the person he would go on to become. He was taken from me.’

She added: ‘It has been distressing to see the defendant continue his life while our family is devastated. I don’t think I have seen genuine remorse which shows the understanding of the lifelong damage caused.

‘I feel like my son’s life has been treated as something that can simply be moved on from.

‘One particular time which was especially distressing is when the defendant and his new partner did a gender reveal on the weekend anniversary of my son’s death.

‘He was able to build a future while my son had none.’

Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, said Morgan ‘seriously abused the trust placed in him’ by shaking Jensen-Lee in an ‘extremely violent attack’ the day before he died.

Morgan had argued with Ms Griffiths, his former partner, earlier that day, and was left alone with Jensen-Lee while Ms Dougal went to work.

Ms Rees told the court Morgan was ‘full of rage’ following the dispute with Ms Griffiths.

‘It is clear that this abusive exchange had flipped some kind of switch in Thomas Morgan,’ she said.

‘By the time he was alone with Jenson-Lee, he was angry and aggressive and in no state of mind to be caring for a young baby on his own.’

While at work, Ms Dougal received a call from Morgan in which he told her the baby was choking and had stopped breathing, the court heard.

The five-month-old was taken to hospital but found to have a ‘devastating’ brain injury and was taken off life support the following day.

Morgan denied inflicting serious injuries on Jensen-Lee and said he tried to save the baby after he fell ill in his care, believing he had choked on his own sick.

However, he was found guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

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