JAMES CRAIG AND SHARMA DOOKHOOAH SENTENCED IN ROMFORD FOR BABY'S FATAL INJURIES

In December 2006, tragedy struck the quiet neighborhood of Rush Green Gardens in Romford, Essex, when the lifeless body of a 10-month-old baby named Neo Craig was discovered. The infant had succumbed to injuries inflicted by those responsible for his care, leading to a harrowing investigation that revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and neglect by his parents, both of whom were heavily involved in drug addiction.

Neo Craig's death was caused by a punch to the stomach, which resulted in internal bleeding so severe that it proved fatal. The incident was brought to light during a court hearing at the Old Bailey, where it was confirmed that the injuries were inflicted by his parents, Sharma Dookhooah, aged 25, and James Craig, aged 26. Both individuals, known to be crack cocaine users, admitted to causing or allowing the death of their young son, a tragic culmination of their ongoing substance abuse and chaotic lifestyle.

Judge Richard Hone presided over the case and made it clear that both Dookhooah and Craig bore equal responsibility for Neo's death. During the proceedings, the judge expressed profound disappointment in their failure to prioritize their child's well-being over their addiction. He stated, “Such was the depth of your addiction that you put your own irresponsible and degrading lifestyle above the interests of your child. I do accept that you both did care for him and in your peculiar ways loved him, but the bitter truth is that you loved your crack cocaine more.”

The court detailed a disturbing history of injuries sustained by Neo, listing ten separate instances where the infant was found with bruises, scratches, and other unexplained injuries. The judge described Neo’s short life as one marked by a series of suspicious injuries, highlighting the neglect and physical harm he endured.

Further investigation revealed that Dookhooah, who was employed as a carer at an elderly care home, was spending a substantial inheritance of £60,000 on a daily crack cocaine habit costing approximately £250. Despite her status on the “at risk” register, social workers failed to detect the extent of Neo’s injuries during a visit two months prior to his death, as he was covered in baby powder at the time, concealing the injuries.

Post-mortem examinations confirmed the severity of Neo’s injuries. In addition to the fatal internal bleeding, he had suffered rib fractures, bruising, and tests on his hair revealed traces of cocaine. The investigation also uncovered a violent incident on December 24, 2006, when Craig admitted to striking Dookhooah with a clenched fist during an argument while she was holding Neo. Prosecutor Richard Whittam explained that the blow impacted Neo, as Dookhooah moved slightly during the altercation.

As a consequence of their actions, both Dookhooah and Craig were sentenced to five years in prison and were also banned from working with children for the same duration. The Havering Safeguarding Children Board conducted a serious case review, which found that Neo’s parents had attempted to conceal his injuries and deliberately misled child protection agencies. The report described Neo’s home environment as chaotic and characterized by deception aimed at thwarting intervention efforts.

In response to this tragic case, authorities have implemented additional measures to bolster child protection services. These include enhanced drug awareness training for social workers, aiming to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future and to ensure that vulnerable children receive the protection they need from neglect and abuse.