Telford father gets 10 years for killing baby son

Thomas, 29, was convicted by majority verdict of killing Oliver Sargent - who suffered head injuries consistent with a 40mph car crash - after a month-long trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was acquitted of murder.

His wife, Oliver's mother Ashlea Thomas, 21, was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after being cleared of murder and manslaughter, but convicted of causing or allowing the death of her little boy.

Detective Inspector Ernie Locke, who led the investigation, said: "Our aim was to be the voice of Oliver Sargent in court, and seek out the truth. Hopefully we've been able to achieve this.

"Safeguarding children is at the core of West Mercia Police, and extremely important to all our officers.

"This unthinkable crime, has led to the tragic death of an innocent baby.

"We would like to thank everyone who has assisted us with this lengthy and complex investigation. Our thoughts are with the wider Sargent family."

She wept in the dock as the foreman of the jury delivered his verdict, while her husband blinked just once.

Oliver died in July 2012, four days after a 999 call reporting that he had stopped breathing while at home.

During the trial, Paul Thomas had suggested his pet dog may have "accidentally" injured Oliver, who suffered a bleed on the brain after being shaken.

Post-mortem tests established that Oliver, who had 13 separate marks on his body and face, had been subjected to at least one impact to the left side of his head.

Further investigations by medical experts found historic injuries, including two fractured ribs and broken left collar bone, which had all healed.

Oliver was rushed to hospital in Telford on July 27 2012, after his father called 999, and was eventually transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

While there, a nurse overheard Ashlea Thomas ask her mother "How long do you think I am going to get?" while Paul Thomas asked a police officer what sort of prison sentence someone might get for what had happened to his son.

Ashlea Thomas, a 21-year-old nursery nurse, and her husband, a builder by trade, had only moved into their home in Priory Way, Telford, a few weeks before the call to the emergency services.

Throughout the trial the jury had heard Oliver had been in and out of hospital and doctors' surgeries in the months before that, with his parents telling doctors and nurses he was constantly vomiting.

Laura Johnston, Telford & Wrekin Council's Director of Children and Family Services, said: "We are pleased that this matter has been brought to a conclusion through the courts of law.

"This was a tragic case and our thoughts are with the wider Sargent family, which has been profoundly affected by this."

Andrew Mason, chairman of Telford and Wrekin's Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: "Today's verdict will be followed up with the publication of a Serious Case Review.

"We have already carried out extensive work on this and it is virtually complete. However there is some more work to be done that could not be completed until the conclusion of the trial and that will now be done. We expect that this review will be published in early June."

During their trial, the couple both denied injuring Oliver, who they claimed had been found in a "lifeless" condition in his cot.

Both Paul and Ashlea Thomas, both formerly of Priory Way, St Georges, Telford, but now of Dalford Court, Hollinswood, Telford, denied murder throughout the trial.

They also denied an alternative charge of causing a child's death by not recognising there was a risk of significant harm by a member of the household between July 27 and July 31, 2012.

Both also faced and denied charges of abusing, ill-treating, abandoning or neglecting Oliver in a manner likely to cause harm between March 12 and July 26, 2012.

Sandra McNair, NSPCC Midlands Regional Head of Service, said: "It is heart-breaking to know that this defenceless baby died after sustaining horrific injuries; injuries said to be consistent with being involved in a 40mph road accident.

"That he should have endured such agony in his short life is extremely distressing and his parents have rightly been held to account for their crimes."

• Anyone who has concerns about the welfare of a child can contact the free, 24-hour NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk