Darlington toddler's head injuries were not 'accidental'

Charlie Roberts died despite the best efforts of medical staff to save his young life after he suffered a bleed on the brain consistent with him being hit or shaken.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the toddler was taken to the Great North Children’s Hospital after paramedics found him unresponsive when they were called to his Darlington home.

Christopher Stockton is accused of murdering his girlfriend’s son just minutes after she left home to attend an optician’s appointment.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Victoria Thomas said Charlie was unconscious when he arrived at hospital and medics were concerned about bruising to his ear but they needed to stabilise his condition before taking him for a CT scan.

Charlie Roberts (Image: Family handout)

She said: “Unfortunately, Charlie deteriorated very swiftly despite maximal care, he became more and more sick and less and less stable.

“By the afternoon, it was clear that he wasn’t going to survive those injuries and he went on to die the next day.

“And because he deteriorated so quickly it all felt like an acute injury – one that had happened in the recent past rather than a more longstanding picture.”

Dr Thomas said Charlie had suffered a bleed on the brain as the result of a significant injury which pressed on the brain causing damage.

She told the jury that the injuries were not consistent with being accidental day-to-day injuries suffered by toddlers.

Chris Stockton with Paula Roberts and toddler Charlie Roberts (Image: Facebook)

A recording of Stockton’s 999 call to emergency services was played to the jury where the accused can be heard saying that Charlie wasn’t breathing properly after he had choked on something.

Charlie died the day after the incident at their home in Frosterley Drive, Darlington, on Friday, January 12, which left him critically injured.

Body-worn camera footage recorded by police officers interviewing the couple in the hospital was played to the jury.

Outlining what had happened on the morning, Stockton said: “He started to cough, I picked him up and put him on my knee and he started to go floppy.

“Then he was gasping for breath, I started patting him on the back as if he was choking, I couldn’t see anything, so I stuck my fingers down his throat and couldn’t feel anything.

“He started gasping, so I rang 999. He was coming back; he was lucid but then he was gasping for air again, so I thought there was something still there.

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“I put my fingers down his throat but couldn't find anything."

The 38-year-old and the child’s mother, 41-year-old Roberts, are both charged with neglect. The pair both deny the charge.

Stockton, of Neasham Road, Darlington, remains remanded in custody while Roberts, of Darlington, has been released on conditional bail during proceedings.

The trial continues.