Kent man jailed for 10 years for attack on 30-day-old baby

05/02/2013

A Kent man has been jailed for 10 years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a 30-day-old baby.

Nathan Rawling was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service, after the baby suffered what was described in court as "horrific, life-threatening injuries."

He suffered 26 rib fractures, fractures to both of his collarbones and a spiral fracture of his right arm. As a result of the trauma to the babys chest, both his lungs were punctured. When he was taken to hospital, he had to be resuscitated, as he was not breathing.

Prosecutor Simon Ringrose from CPS South East Complex Casework Unit said: "The baby, who was only a month old, was subjected to what can only be described as a frenzied, brutal and repeated assault by Nathan Rawling, which left him with life-threatening injuries. It is down to the swift and expert intervention of the doctors and nurses at Darent Valley Hospital that he survived this attack. It is also thanks to the evidence of some of these medical professionals that the CPS was able to prove to the jury that these injuries could not have been inflicted accidentally, would have caused the baby acute distress and were intended to cause serious harm."

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Pritchard from Kent Police's Operational Public Protection Unit welcomed the verdict. "This was an extremely serious assault on an innocent baby boy. In my service I have not seen such extensive injuries on such a young child. It was a case that shocked the public and caused considerable community tension in Gravesend.

"The infant, who was just 31 days old, suffered incredible trauma, which arguably should have cost him his life or at the very least left him with long-term medical problems. However thanks to the excellent work of the doctors and nurses at Darent Valley Hospital and Kings College Hospital, he not only survived the attack but is now doing well.

"Rawling is a bully who took out his anger in the most cowardly way possible when he assaulted this baby and it is satisfying to see that justice has been served. I would like to take this opportunity to thank officers for their tireless investigation into this both tragic and disturbing case, and to praise medical staff who not only saved the infant's life but helped to convict his attacker through their evidence. Cases like this are incredibly traumatic and difficult for those working on them, and those involved were professional to the last, allowing us to gather the best possible evidence to put before the court.

"I would also like to acknowledge the Gravesend community who held vigils and sent hundreds of letters and well-wishes to the baby. I cannot overestimate the devastating impact this assault has had on the community and would like to thank them all for staying calm and keeping the focus on the child's recovery rather than his attacker."