Young man jailed for assaulting baby found with multiple fractured bones

Jack Heslip treated the six-week-old "roughly, probably in temper" and used significant force causing serious physical harm to the vulnerable child.

Mold Crown Court heard that the 22-year-old, who has spent a significant time of his adult life in prison, was an immature young man who was frustrated.

Co-defendant Jodie Hutchinson-Purcell, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. Her sentence was significantly reduced because of her lack of maturity and mental health problems.

Following an application from the Powys County Times on Wednesday, July 6, the court lifted a ban on naming the defendants in the case, meaning their identities can be published but the baby may not be named.

"It's heartbreaking to think, even to imagine, the pain and misery that was caused to that six-week-old boy," said His Honour Judge Niclas Parry during a sentencing hearing on Friday.

Heslip, who was 18 at the time he committed the offence in Welshpool, pleaded guilty to seriously neglecting and using significant force on the boy.

The child suffered fractures to the right thigh bone, lower right and left legs, left and right collarbones, four ribs and possibly five others, and left and right wrists.

Judge Parry added: "You were simply incapable of and not prepared for the responsibility of parenthood because of your level of maturity. It is accepted that there was no intention to cause these injuries. There is no suggestion that this case was with elements of sadism or worse."

The baby's mother, Jodie Hutchinson-Purcell, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. Her sentence was significantly reduced because of her lack of maturity and mental health problems.

Judge Parry told the 23-year-old mother, who could be heard sobbing in court: "You let this happen. You know you should have done more to stop it. You ignored warnings from your mother that [the baby] was in danger.

"You've lived a life of trauma and abuse and clearly you were cognitively and emotionally immature. I have read about the positive and stabilising features that now exist in your life."

Mold Crown Court heard that the baby boy suffered a bump to the head and was breathing irregularly after he had fallen from his mother's chest while she slept.

Paramedics were called to the property in Welshpool and the baby was taken to The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford on December 9, 2018 for CT scans of his head and chest.

Doctors and medical experts agreed that the baby had suffered "typical non-accidental injuries" that were likely caused on more than one occasion.

While summing up his reasons for sentencing, Judge Parry said: "There can be no greater responsibility than having the care of a child, particularly a child as young as six weeks old. Non-mobile and entirely dependant upon you.

"These courts will do whatever they can to protect those who cannot protect themselves. (The baby) was as vulnerable as he could be.

"All of this happened because you treated him roughly, probably in temper. You would use force that would be significant that led to injury. It defies belief to read one of the documents referencing your claim that you may have dropped the baby. You would know if you had dropped a six-week-old baby.

"This happened on more than one occasion. (The baby) also suffered injuries to the eyes. It cannot be confirmed that this was caused by you pushing your fingers or thumbs into his eyes but the reality is by virtue of other inappropriate actions you were responsible for those injuries as well.

"(The baby) is now in adopted care and is reaching his expected developmental milestones, is enjoying life and is described as happy, funny and kind.

"But clearly, multiple bone fractures to a six-week-old child amounts to serious physical harm."

Heslip, who is currently in custody at HMP Berwyn for another offence, was sentenced to three years in prison. Jodie Marie Hutchinson-Purcell, of Dovedale Crescent, Southgate, Crawley, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to neglecting a child likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.