Bully trusted to look after baby jailed for breaking its leg and fracturing its rib
Gary Gardner
A BULLY who was trusted to look after a young baby ended up causing him injuries including a broken leg and a fractured rib.
Gary Gardner, aged 23, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in November after a jury convicted him of cruelty and injuring the child.
The case can now be reported following the sentencing of his co-defendant, who cannot be named.
Catarina Sjolin, prosecuting, told a jury at Northampton Crown Court how the youngster was taken to a GP in Northamptonshire in July 2010.
The doctor discovered the baby had a broken tibia, while further examination discovered he had a broken rib, an injury which was up to five weeks old.
She said: “The child had bruising to his chest consistent with being held very tight and manhandled. If they had been properly caring for the child, they would have sought medical attention. The child would have been very distressed when this occurred and when his leg was touched or moved.”
“The fracture to the tibia [shin bone] was caused by force being used well in excess of that used during normal day-to-day handling of a child. It is not easy to break a tibia and such fractures are very rare in young children. A pulling and a twisting motion would have been required to cause a break to this bone.
“This is more than rough handling. It is a deliberately cruel and violent act. Neither defendant has provided an adequate explanation for any of the injuries.”
Gardner (pictured) and his 25-year-old female co-defendant, now of Skegness, Lincolnshire, were convicted of child cruelty while Gardener was also convicted of two bodily harm offences.
He is now thought to have launched an appeal against his 42-month sentence.
Sentencing her, Recorder Patrick Upward QC said: “It is clear to me your strength of will was largely overcome by the attitude and actions of your co-defendant.”
She was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with probation supervision and a three-month 9pm to 7am curfew.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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