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Family handout
Charlie Roberts died in hospital a day after being injured at his residence
A person who murdered his companion’s 22-month-old son has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years.
Christopher Stockton, 38, claimed Charlie Roberts choked on a biscuit at their Darlington residence in January 2024, however medical doctors rapidly deduced the toddler had been fatally shaken.
Stockton was jailed for all times with a minimal time period at Teesside Crown Court after being discovered responsible of homicide and abusing Charlie within the months earlier than the boy’s demise.
Charlie’s mum Paula Roberts, 41, who wished her son to name Stockton “daddy”, was jailed for 4 years having admitted neglect by failing to get him medical remedy for earlier accidents.
The decide mentioned she had “turned a blind eye” to the cruelty and violence her boyfriend was inflicting on her son.
Durham Police
Christopher Stockton was discovered responsible of homicide and youngster cruelty
Stockton and Roberts began a relationship in early 2023 and he moved into her residence on Frosterley Drive simply seven days earlier than Charlie was fatally injured, the homicide trial heard.
Family and nursery workers observed suspicious bruises on Charlie within the months earlier than his demise however, aside from putting in a spy digital camera in her son’s bed room, Roberts took no additional motion, the courtroom was advised.
Stockton had been in sole cost of Charlie for simply 18 minutes on the morning of 12 January when he known as 999 to say the boy had gone “floppy” and was struggling to breathe.
Stockton was so calm on the decision {that a} Great North Air Ambulance medic thought it was a hoax, the courtroom heard, with the killer claiming he was too unwell to carry out CPR on Charlie as he was battling pneumonia on the time.
He claimed Charlie had choked on a biscuit whereas enjoying in a toy tunnel of their front room, however medical workers have been instantly suspicious.
Watch Darlington killer inform police about boy’s fall
Scans at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary revealed Charlie had catastrophic bleeding in his mind which led to his demise the following day.
Pathologists concluded he had been intentionally violently shaken or had his head struck with extreme power.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC beforehand advised jurors Stockton had “little patience” for Charlie, whereas Roberts was ready to “overlook” her boyfriend’s actions to “keep him in her life”.
Durham Police
Charlie Roberts was inspired to name Christopher Stockton “daddy”
Roberts had initially denied any wrongdoing however, partway by the trial, admitted youngster cruelty by the wilful neglect of Charlie by failing to get him medical remedy for accidents to his ear and genitals within the weeks earlier than his demise.
Her barrister Richard Herrmann mentioned she had the “wool pulled over her eyes” by Stockton and “did not believe” he was hurting her son.
Stockton advised her Charlie was harm in accidents, similar to falling off the bed, however Roberts admitted she was at fault by not getting her son medical remedy no matter how she believed he had sustained the “excruciating” accidents, the courtroom heard.
Family handout
Police mentioned Charlie Roberts’ life was cruelly reduce quick
Mr Herrmann mentioned Roberts had a number of contacts with childcare professionals and social employees however none of them raised any considerations.
Darlington Borough Council investigated after Charlie was taken to hospital with an damage in the summertime of 2023, however they concluded it was not suspicious, Mr Herrmann mentioned.
He additionally mentioned Roberts reviewed the footage captured on the bed room digital camera however “saw nothing” to trigger her to fret.
Mr Herrmann mentioned Roberts accepted if she had acted in a different way her son should be alive, including that was a “very significant cross to bear for the rest of her life”.
‘Risk to youngsters’
Mr Justice Goss mentioned Stockton had disadvantaged a younger “exuberant” youngster of his life and robbed his household of the enjoyment of watching him develop up.
He mentioned Stockton had been “intermittently cruel and violent” in direction of Charlie throughout the boy’s quick life and “concealed” his actions by blaming “accidental falls or natural events”.
The decide mentioned solely Stockton knew why he had killed Charlie however mentioned the power wanted was “substantial” and his mind accidents have been solely by chance prompted in things like automobile crashes, head crushing incidents or high-level falls.
Mr Justice Goss advised Roberts she had prioritised her relationship over her son’s care and “turned a blind eye” to the abuse.
“You remain a risk to any children in your care,” the decide advised her.
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