CRAIG CROUCH AND GEMMA BARTON FROM LINTON CONVICTED IN DERBYSHIRE BABY MURDER CASE

In a tragic and deeply disturbing case that unfolded in Derbyshire, Craig Crouch, aged 39, was found guilty of the murder of his 10-month-old stepson, Jacob Crouch. The heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the child's death revealed a pattern of severe physical abuse that left the young boy with dozens of injuries, including at least 39 fractured ribs, multiple bruises, and internal injuries that ultimately led to his demise.

Jacob Crouch was discovered dead in his cot at their home in Linton, near Swadlincote, on December 30, 2020. The investigation uncovered that the child had been subjected to repeated acts of violence in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to his death. The court heard that the injuries were so severe that they included a traumatic perforation of the bowel, which caused a fatal infection known as peritonitis. Forensic experts described the injury as consistent with blunt force trauma, such as a punch, kick, or stamp, comparing it to injuries typically seen in car crash victims or individuals who have fallen from a significant height.

During the seven-week trial at Derby Crown Court, the jury was presented with evidence of multiple assaults. Dr. Sarah Dixon, a consultant paediatrician, testified that Jacob had suffered “repeated physical abuse,” which was evident from the injuries sustained shortly before his death. The forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Biggs, explained that the perforation in Jacob’s bowel was only consistent with blunt force trauma, emphasizing the severity of the injuries inflicted upon the child.

Prosecutor Mary Prior KC detailed the extent of the violence, stating that Jacob’s bones had been broken on at least five separate occasions. She described how the force used in these assaults was so intense that it caused a tear in his stomach, leading to the perforation and subsequent death. The court was shown evidence of text messages exchanged between Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton, the child's mother, in which they referred to Jacob as “the devil” and expressed frustration about the challenges of caring for him. One message from Crouch to Barton read: “You need to be harder on him with this and not let this take over us. This will only get worse if not addressed now.”

Despite the evidence, Craig Crouch maintained his innocence, claiming during a 999 call that Jacob was “fine” just two hours before paramedics arrived. However, Dr. Biggs testified that the child would have been “systematically unwell” in the lead-up to his death, contradicting Crouch’s account. The court also heard that Gemma Barton, aged 33, was on trial for murder but was ultimately acquitted of that charge. She was, however, found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and one count of child cruelty.

Gemma Barton described Jacob as her “bundle of joy” and expressed her devastation, saying it felt like her “whole world had just ended” when she was awakened by Crouch screaming that the baby was dead. The pair had met when Barton was four months pregnant with Jacob, and they quickly became close, referring to the unborn child as “our little boy.” Jacob was born on February 17, 2020, with Crouch listed as his father on the birth certificate.

Following their arrest on January 5, 2021, both Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton resumed their relationship despite being under bail conditions that prohibited contact. Throughout the trial, both defendants chose to remain silent as the verdicts were delivered, while members of the public gallery were visibly distressed, some weeping as the gravity of the case was revealed.