June 2006

BABY-BITER WILL BE FREE IN 8 MONTHS

A CARLISLE thug who left a baby girl with agonising injuries that included a bite to her body has been jailed for three years – but he will be free in eight months.

Robert Dunn, 21, who smirked as he sat in the dock listening to details of the child’s ordeal, left the child with a harrowing catalogue of injuries after subjecting her to six days of abuse.

Her injuries included:

A bite injury to her stomach;

Double fracture of her leg, including one consistent with the baby’s foot having been stamped on;

Face and body covered in bruises.

Dunn initially denied being responsible, making a cowardly attempt to blame the child’s injuries on one of his relatives.

But after being confronted by damning evidence during a trial from a string of witnesses, he admitted child cruelty and causing the child grievous bodily harm.

His former girlfriend Holly Johnson admitted two counts of child cruelty – one by roughly handling the child and one by failing to protect her from Dunn’s abuse.

Recorder Stephen Riordan jailed Dunn for three years, but he must serve only half before becoming eligible for release on licence.

Incredibly, since he has already served 317 days on remand, he could be free from jail in just eight months.

The sentence drew condemnation from former police officer and Carlisle city councillor David Morton.

He said: “It’s appalling – and it sends out the wrong message. Somebody convicted of a crime like this should get at least five years.”

Recorder Riordan gave Johnson – said to be dominated by Dunn – a two year community and rehabilitation order after hearing she has already served the equivalent of an 18 month jail sentence on remand.

Privately, some of those involved in the investigation said they had expected a longer jail sentence for Dunn as the maximum possible term for child cruelty is ten years.

Meanwhile, senior officers involved in the case said the baby girl would almost certainly have died had they not intervened when they did. At an earlier hearing, the court heard disturbing details of how the couple subjected the baby to six days of appalling abuse.

The baby’s ordeal happened in December 2004 when Johnson and Dunn lived together at Ennerdale Avenue, Botcherby.

Witnesses told how Johnson had even asked a relative for make-up in an attempt to disguise the child’s injuries. On another occasion, they wrapped her in a shawl to cover her bruises.

Johnson claimed Dunn accidentally injured the child when he hit out in his sleep. Alerted by worried social services officials, police began their investigation and Dunn went on the run. During the two days of the trial before both defendants changed their pleas, several witnesses wept in court as they looked at photos of the child’s injuries.

In contrast, when police showed Dunn the same photos, he burst out laughing.

Some of the officers – parents themselves – said it has been one of the most disturbing they have ever deal with. After the last hearing, detective constable Jude Kelly spoke of the profound effect of the case.

Describing the photos of the baby’s injuries, she said: “There are tears in the child’s eyes and the expression is one of complete fear.

“To have experienced such fear and anxiety at so early an age is a terrible thing.”

In court yesterday, defence barrister Greg Hoare said Dunn had been affected badly by the death of his father and had also abused alcohol.

Dunn, an inadequate character who felt jealous of the baby, had found it difficult to deal with his time on remand, said Mr Hoare.

Frank Nance, for Johnson, who has no previous convictions, said she made a serious attempt on her own life and had been under supervision since the trial.

“She feels the loss of the child badly,” said the barrister. “She used the expression to me ‘It’s killing me.’ Perhaps, given her history of self harm, she didn’t use that phrase idly.”

Johnson had now formed a new friendship with a young man, with whose family she now planned to live.

Passing sentence, Recorder Riordan told Dunn: “You treated that child quite brutally.”

The judge imposed three years for the assault, and two years concurrent for the child cruelty on the basis that Dunn caused most of the bruising. Recorder Riordan also banned Dunn from working with children.

Johnson, who has served 264 days on remand, was freed immediately but will remain under probation service supervision throughout her sentence.

A police spokesman said the investigation involved social services, police, and local health service experts.

He added: “Nationally, there have been investigations over the past few years where child protection agencies have been the subject of major criticism.

“However, on this occasion, a child’s life has almost certainly been saved by the early intervention of staff from Children’s Services and Police. Thankfully, the child is now thriving and is very unlikely to have any lasting memories of the experience.”