LEE HOPKINSON SHAKES BABY IN BUNTINGFORD LEAVING HER DISABLED FOR LIFE - JAIL SENTENCE REDUCED IN LONDON COURT

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Buntingford, Lee John Hopkinson, a 28-year-old man, was convicted of causing catastrophic injuries to a young infant under his care. The incident, which took place in May 2017, involved Hopkinson violently shaking the baby girl, an act that resulted in severe and lifelong disabilities.

Hopkinson's actions left the infant with extensive brain damage, rendering her permanently disabled. The young girl now faces a future marked by significant challenges, including being registered blind, suffering from severe learning difficulties, and having mild cerebral palsy. The severity of her injuries has drawn widespread concern and condemnation.

Initially, Hopkinson was sentenced in September 2016 at St Albans Crown Court to four years and ten months in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty. The court heard that the baby was only a few weeks old when she was brought to the hospital after becoming floppy and vomiting. Despite her condition, she was discharged from medical care at that time.

However, her health rapidly deteriorated within days, prompting an emergency ambulance transfer to another hospital. It was during this subsequent hospital visit that medical professionals discovered the extent of her injuries, which included serious brain trauma. Hopkinson later admitted to shaking the infant because she was crying, a confession that underscored the tragic nature of the case.

The court was informed that the injuries might not have been as severe had Hopkinson disclosed the true cause of her condition during the initial hospital visit. His failure to do so hindered medical professionals' ability to provide appropriate treatment promptly.

In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in London reviewed Hopkinson's sentence and decided to reduce it to three years and four months, deeming the original sentence 'too harsh.' The judges, including Judge Paul Farrer QC, Lord Justice Fulford, and Mrs Justice O’Farrell, emphasized that this was an assault on an extremely vulnerable victim, involving an abuse of trust and power.

Judge Farrer remarked that Hopkinson's failure to disclose the truth compromised the child's care and recovery prospects. Nonetheless, the court acknowledged that the incident was a 'sudden flash of temper' from a man of previously good character, which influenced the decision to lessen his sentence. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of accountability in such tragic circumstances.