Before Craig Crouch’s final, fatal assault on Jacob Crouch, the victim had been attacked multiple times in the months before his death.
Gemma Barton, Jacob’s mother, was found guilty of causing or permitting a child’s death despite being exonerated of murder.
The two were previously sentenced at Derby Crown Court.
Barton, who had been receiving treatment for breast cancer since being detained and who the judge thought had been pressured and controlled by Crouch, received a 10-year prison term.
The seven-week trial heard that Jacob lived a “living hell” at his house in Linton, Derbyshire, before passing away in his cot by himself on December 30, 2020.
According to the prosecution, neither parent provided him with the attention he “needed or deserved”.
According to defense attorney Mary Prior KC, Jacob had at least 39 broken ribs, 22 of which happened during the week leading up to his passing.
He reportedly suffered “significant” bruises on his cheekbones, left leg, and ear.
She claimed that after suffering “brutal blows to his abdomen” that tore his bowel and resulted in peritonitis, Jacob ultimately died as a result.
Dr. Michael Biggs, a forensic pathologist who testified at the trial, said he would often anticipate seeing these injuries in people who had been in automobile accidents or fallen multiple stories.
According to Mr. Justice Kerr, Crouch, 39, endured “acute physical and mental suffering” on behalf of Jacob.The judge remarked that the infant was “a happy, smiling, bubbly baby who never complained about the horrific treatment he was receiving.”
“He had to put up with it, and he did, often with a smile and laughter in defiance of his tormentor.”
Crouch had “not shown any remorse,” he continued.
When Barton, 33, heard her punishment, she sobbed in the dock.
“You either knew or should have known the risk to Jacob from Mr. Crouch, and you did nothing to protect him from it,” the judge remarked.
“I’m sure you were aware of how dire Jacob’s situation was. You did not follow through with the actions that were fairly anticipated of you.
The proof was there to see, but you chose not to accept it.
In September 2019, when Crouch was four months pregnant with Jacob, Barton first met her.
She had previously been abused by Jacob’s biological father, the court heard.
Crouch was referred to by police as a “fantasist” and told Barton numerous lies about himself.
Det Insp. Paul Bullock of the Derbyshire Police said, “He claimed to be a director at JCB, he claimed to be on a six-figure salary, but in reality he was operating a forklift in the warehouse.”
Crouch even claimed to have met Boris Johnson while “flying around in the JCB helicopter” in a statement to Barton.
Only a month after meeting, Barton and Crouch allegedly “became very close, very quickly,” referring to Jacob as “our little boy.”Crouch was listed as Jacob’s father on the birth certificate when Jacob was born on February 17, 2020.
The judge claimed that he had considered the possibility that Barton’s history of mental health issues, which included depression, may have rendered her “more vulnerable to manipulation and coercion.”
According to the judge, “Mr. Crouch did exercise such influence over you and did manipulate you in a manner amounting to what is commonly referred to as coercive and controlling behavior.”
Many text messages that were read to the jury during the trial provide adequate proof of it.
At the trial, it was revealed that in June 2020, Crouch advised Barton to be “more regimental” with her kid.
The two referred to Jacob as the “devil” in another text.
When Barton revealed to Crouch that she was washing Jacob in September, he responded, “3 foot deep, just hot water and some bleach xxxx.”
Mrs. Prior said that if either defendant had phoned for assistance sooner, Jacob might have survived the final, deadly assault.
They did make the 999 call, saying they had discovered Jacob unconscious in his cot.
When paramedics came, there were already indications of rigor mortis, indicating that Jacob had likely been deceased for a much longer than his parents had stated.
Three accusations of child maltreatment were also found to be true against Crouch.
He received sentences of eight years in prison, six years in prison, and one year in prison, to be served consecutively with his life sentence.
In addition to causing or permitting a child’s death, Barton was found guilty of one count of child cruelty.
She was exonerated, nevertheless, on two further counts of child abuse and manslaughter, a lesser charge than murder.
Although no punishment can bring Jacob back, Det Insp. Bullock stated outside of court: “I hope that today provides the family some closure on what has been a dreadful two and a half years.
I also want to express my gratitude to them all for acting in a dignified and respectful manner throughout the trial.
“My sympathies continue to be with them all.”
The Crown Prosecution Service’s Andrew Baxter stated: “Jacob’s brief existence was marked by anguish and suffering, all brought on by these defendants’ rejection of his fundamental needs and Craig Crouch’s bizarre need for ‘discipline’.
“Both of them utterly disregarded their moral and legal obligation to safeguard a child in their care. Crouch killed Jacob rather than raising him, and despite knowing what was going, Barton did nothing to shield him from danger.
“Their conduct is made all the more horrifying by the fact that they treated a child in such a way at such a young age.”
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