Complaint of parents wrongly suspected of death of baby dismissed by West Mercia Police

Naomi Stamps and Dean Baker were arrested following the death of their nine-month-old son Jude but a coroner later ruled he died of natural causes.

He had suffered significant health problems since being born prematurely as one of triplets.

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When Jude's body was examined he was found to have suffered several bone fractures in the weeks before his death. Suspicion then fell upon Jude's parents Miss Stamps and Mr Baker, from Kidderminster.

They were taken in for questioning and had their other children taken off them while the investigation was ongoing.

However, experts concluded Jude had weakened bones due to his condition and the injuries were highly likely to have been caused by routine handling.

Miss Stamps, aged 32, and Mr Baker, 43, said they were appalled at the way they were treated and that they felt they had not been able to grieve for Jude.

A complaint was lodged with West Mercia Police over the investigation but the force said today it had no case to answer as it had a duty to investigate Jude's death.

But Miss Stamps, aged 32, of Westcott Road, told the Express & Star the police should have been aware of Jude's health problems he had suffered from birth.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Love said: "The sudden, unexpected death of any person, including a child, is a tragedy and is required to be investigated by police and other key partners including children's social care and health services.

"We can confirm that we received a complaint regarding the police investigation into Jude's tragic death, this was thoroughly examined and was not upheld.

"West Mercia Police always takes complaints made against the force very seriously, ensuring that each one is robustly investigated through the appropriate channels."

Jude weighed just one pound when Miss Stamps gave birth to triplets 29 weeks into her pregnancy.

There were immediately complications with his health and he suffered with respiratory problems and chronic lung distress. Miss Stamps challenged DCI Love's claim that his death was unexpected.

She said: "I was told every day for two weeks that Jude could die, to expect the worst. I don't understand how the police can say that. I feel they were in the wrong and that I have been made to feel like a criminal.

"I'm scared of Jude's sisters bumping themselves now in case I get accused of something."

Worcestershire assistant coroner David Neil concluded Jude died of natural causes at an inquest into his death last month.