UK

Man and woman convicted of causing death of five-month-old girl

Man and woman convicted of causing death of five-month-old girl

A man and a woman have been found guilty of causing the death of a five-month-old girl who suffered fractures on her body and a severe head trauma.

The trial of Joshua Collard and Rebecca Grocott was told the baby died on 1 March 2020, three days after paramedics were called.

The paramedics, who reported to police that the child was in cardiac arrest, treated the child in an ambulance but she later died in hospital.

Staffordshire Police said the infant was found to have multiple rib, collarbone and femur fractures as well as severe trauma to the side of her head.

Collard, 30, and Grocott, 27, said they did not know how the injuries were sustained and later denied hurting her.

But the pair were convicted on Tuesday of causing the girl’s death and several other offences, including causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, and two counts of assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting or abandoning a child or young person to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

After an investigation into her death and a post-mortem examination, the pair were arrested on 25 March 2020.

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‘Truly tragic case’

Detective Constable Emily Hanlon, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This was a truly tragic case in which [a] five-month-old [girl] died as a result of the actions of two people.

“I would like to thank all of those involved in securing justice for [the girl].”

Collard, from Stafford, and Grocott, from Stone, were convicted following a five-week trial at Stafford Crown Court.

They will be sentenced at the same court on 27 July.