A man accused of murdering his girlfriend’s son denies ever hurting the toddler despite her placing a camera in the boy’s bedroom, a court heard.

Christopher Stockton was the sole carer of Charlie Roberts when he suffered fatal head injuries minutes after his mother left home for an appointment.

When the 38-year-old was interviewed by police following the Darlington toddler’s death he questioned why she would leave her son with him if his mother was concerned about his behaviour.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Charlie Roberts was found unresponsive by paramedics when they arrived at his Darlington home in January and despite their best efforts, he passed away the following day.

The camera which had been placed in the bedroom of Charlie Roberts by his motherThe camera which had been placed in the bedroom of Charlie Roberts by his mother (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Stockton, of Neasham Road, Darlington, denies murder and a further charge of child cruelty.

In his final police interview, officers said Roberts had installed a camera above Charlie's cot in September 2023.

The detective told Mr Stockton how Miss Roberts had told colleagues how she had been concerned after hearing him put Charlie to bed.

Charlie RobertsCharlie Roberts (Image: Family handout)

She said the boy had cried out but then quickly stopped, leading her to believe he may have been "muffled" by having a hand placed over his mouth, the court heard.

"Did that ever happen?" the police officer asked. Stockton replied: "No."

He said he "shushed" Charlie by telling him there was "no need" to cry, which calmed the boy.

Stockton said why, if Roberts did indeed suspect he was harming her son, was he still left in sole charge of Charlie on multiple occasions.

"Nobody at any point raised any concern,” he said.

Midway through the trial, Charlie's mother Paula Roberts, 41, admitted child cruelty by neglect by failing to get her son medical treatment when he was injured in the weeks before his death.

Jurors heard how the 22-month-old boy had suffered unexplained injuries his ears and penis shortly before he suffered a fatal bleed on the brain.

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The defendant told officers how he had tried to get something out of the toddler's throat as he thought he was choking on a biscuit.

However, medical experts said there was no evidence that the toddler had choked on anything in the minutes before he fell seriously ill.

Earlier in the trial, jurors were told how the bleed on the toddler’s brain was likely to have been caused when he was shaken and not from a fall.

The trial continues.