Man alleged to have broken baby's bones

A MAN has gone on trial this week accused of causing a series of horrific injuries to a six-week-old baby.

Jamie Shepherd, 25, from Holtye Road, East Grinstead, is alleged to have left the child with a fracture to his skull.

Shepherd appeared at Lewes Crown Court this week, charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the baby.

The court heard how the young boy was rushed to Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton shortly after 2am on a morning in February 2010.

Medics also discovered he had fractures to his ribs and foot.

Shepherd denies the charge and insisted the injuries could not have been sustained on the morning in question and must have occurred the previous day.

The attack is alleged to have taken place at a property in Burgess Hill.

But Shepherd told the court he was not capable of causing the injuries of which he is accused.

He said: "I'm not a violent person. I would not hurt children."

The court heard that paramedics had been called out to check on the baby after a bump appeared on his head.

He was then taken to hospital with his mother and grandmother for further checks.

The defendant was later arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

When quizzed in court about the arrest, Shepherd said: "I was devastated. I spent more than 18 hours in a police cell.

"I couldn't talk to anyone, I was all over the place.

"I was sick in the toilet after I heard he [the baby] had been injured. I think it was just the shock of everything going on."

All evidence was heard by Tuesday afternoon and the jury was considering its verdict as the Courier & Observer went to press.

In his summing-up, Judge Charles Kemp said: "The X-rays revealed fractures to his skull and ribs, the latter of which are up to four or five weeks old.

"There is also a fracture to the metatarsal of the right foot. It is agreed that all of these are non-accidental.

"Dr Dawn Saunders was asked to comment on the injuries [to the baby's skull] and what caused them.

"She concluded that they were most likely to have been sustained on [the morning of the alleged incident].

"She said the baby received two injuries to his skull, as well as injuries to his ribs and foot.

"Dr Stephen Chapman said the amount of force used in the rib injuries was the same that would be used in the cardiac resuscitation of an adult.

"As to the foot injury, he said it was most likely to be the result of a squeezing force."