DANIEL GILBERT OF LUTON AND HARPENDEN SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON SEVEN-WEEK-OLD BABY IN LUTON

In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Luton and Harpenden, Daniel Gilbert, aged 22, has been sentenced to three years in prison following a brutal assault on a seven-week-old infant. The incident, which occurred on the evening of August 9, 2017, resulted in devastating and permanent injuries to the young child, leaving him with irreversible brain damage that will require lifelong care.

Gilbert, who resides at Morris Close in Luton and also has ties to Harpenden, was found guilty after a comprehensive three-week trial held last month. The court heard harrowing details of the attack, which left the infant in a critical condition, suffering from cardiac arrest and bleeding from both his nose and mouth. Emergency services responded swiftly after being alerted to an unresponsive baby in distress. Paramedics managed to resuscitate the child at the scene before transporting him to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

Medical examinations and scans revealed severe injuries, including a bleed to the brain and damage to the brain stem's cardiac control centers, which ultimately caused the child's heart to cease functioning. Additionally, the infant was found to have bleeding in the retinas of both eyes, indicating significant trauma. Due to the severity of his condition, he was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where specialists provided intensive care to stabilize him.

Throughout the trial, it was established that Gilbert’s explanations of the events that night were inconsistent and unreliable. Medical experts conclusively ruled out natural causes for the injuries, determining that the child had been forcefully shaken—a form of abuse often associated with violent shaking that can cause severe brain and retinal injuries. Gilbert’s arrest and subsequent charging were based on these findings, with the charge specified as Section 20 Grievous Bodily Harm.

The consequences of this attack are lifelong. The young victim will require continuous, round-the-clock care for the foreseeable future, a tragic outcome that underscores the severity of Gilbert’s actions and the profound impact on the child's life and his family.