Parents jailed for child cruelty after baby girl found with seven broken ribs
A couple have been jailed for child cruelty after their baby daughter was found to have terrible injuries.
The eight-month-old girl had seven fractured ribs and further fractures to both arms and a shoulder blade, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
She also had a 'very large' number of bruises over her body and limbs, said Bernard Linnemann, prosecuting.
The shocking discovery was only made after her father Wayne Jones called 999 just after midnight on February 12, 2014, to complain that he was feeling suicidal.
The mother was not at the flat in Halesowen after leaving the little girl in his care while she went out for the night and had not come back.
When the apparently well-dressed baby was lifted by the paramedics she appeared to be in pain and was taken to hospital along with Jones.
"He was discharged but the child was found to have a very large number of bruises to her body and limbs. Further investigation found the fractures," said Mr Linnemann.
Experts concluded the injuries had been inflicted on at least two separate occasions during the preceding two to seven weeks.
Both 27-year-old Jones and the child's mother – Abbie Jones, aged 19 – were arrested the same day. "The cruelty must have been serious, whoever inflicted it," said the prosecutor. A relative had previously noticed bruising to the child's body and forehead. Abbie admitted causing or allowing a child to suffer serious injury.
Her former partner pleaded not guilty and was convicted of the offence after a trial. It is unclear who was directly responsible for the injuries.
Mr Benjamin Nicholls, for Wayne Jones, said the defendant was not a violent man and was not drunk when making the phone call that led to the plight of the child being uncovered. Mr Mac Davies, for Abbie Jones said: "She is ashamed and remorseful."
Wayne Jones now living in Northfield was jailed for two and a half years while Abbie Jones, who lives in Halesowen was locked up for 20 months.
Judge Kristina Montgomery QC said: "There were fractures to seven of her ribs, both upper arms and one of her shoulder blades. You both failed to protect her from those assaults."
