A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of his partner’s 22-month-old son. Christopher Stockton, 38, claimed that the child choked on a biscuit but medical professionals found that the boy had been shaken to death. The court heard that Charlie Roberts’ mother, Paula Roberts, 41, was aware of the abuse her boyfriend inflicted on her son but did not report it or seek medical attention for previous injuries. Roberts was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to neglect.
Stockton and Roberts started their relationship in early 2023 and moved in together seven days before Charlie was fatally injured in January 2024. Roberts ignored suspicious bruises on Charlie despite concerns raised by nursery staff and family members. On the morning of the incident, Stockton had been in sole charge of the child for just 18 minutes when he called 999 to report that the boy had gone “floppy” and was struggling to breathe.
The court
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
