GARETH HARRIES FROM MILFORD HAVEN SENTENCED FOR SHAKING BABY DAUGHTER IN LOSSIE MOOTH

In a tragic case that has shocked the community, Gareth Harries, a 25-year-old RAF technician from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for the death of his eight-month-old daughter, Chloe. The incident occurred in November 2006 at the family’s residence in Lossiemouth, where Harries was stationed at the time.

According to court proceedings, Harries was responsible for causing fatal injuries to his infant daughter after she refused to cease crying. The court heard that Harries, overwhelmed by frustration, shook Chloe violently, leading to her tragic death. Initially, Harries attempted to shift blame onto his wife, Hayley, claiming she was responsible for their child's demise. However, during his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, he ultimately admitted to the culpable homicide of Chloe, acknowledging that he had caused her death through repeated shaking.

Judge Lady Dorrian, presiding over the case, delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the severity of Harries' actions. She stated, “It is evident that you must have used significant force on a helpless baby. The consequences of that act will stay with you for the rest of your life.” She also expressed regret that Harries chose to delay his admission of guilt, noting that his initial attempt to blame his wife had made the emotional trauma even worse for her. Lady Dorrian pointed out that Harries’s decision to wait until this stage to admit guilt was deeply unfortunate and that his previous defense, which implicated his wife, was particularly damaging.

While acknowledging Harries’s remorse and the fact that he did not intend to harm his daughter, Lady Dorrian made it clear that the gravity of the offense left no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. Harries’s actions, she said, demonstrated a significant breach of trust and a tragic failure to protect his vulnerable child. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such cases are treated, especially when involving the death of an innocent infant.

Harries’s background as an RAF technician and his residence in Milford Haven have been noted in the case, but the focus remains on the tragic loss of Chloe and the circumstances that led to her death. The community continues to mourn the loss of the young girl, and the case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence against children.