MARK SPIKE SHAKES BABY IN NEWMARKET AND IS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON

In August 2015, a tragic case unfolded involving a young child in Newmarket who suffered severe, lifelong injuries after an incident of shaken baby syndrome. The perpetrator, Mark Spike, a 24-year-old man, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to the infant and was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.

On Thursday, August 13, Ipswich Crown Court delivered the verdict, confirming Spike’s guilt in connection with the injuries sustained by the five-month-old girl. The case had been under investigation since police inquiries began in April 2014, following the serious injuries reported in October 2013.

According to reports, emergency services responded to a distress call from an address in Newmarket on October 23, 2013. Paramedics arrived to find the young girl experiencing breathing difficulties and vomiting. During their assessment, the infant suffered a seizure, prompting her immediate transfer to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Medical examinations revealed she had sustained a brain injury and retinal haemorrhages, injuries that are often associated with non-accidental trauma.

Specialist doctors and surgeons conducted thorough evaluations, concluding that the injuries were inflicted rather than accidental. The diagnosis pointed towards either inflicted head trauma or a shaking injury, commonly known as shaken baby syndrome. The consequences for the child have been devastating; she is now registered as blind, and medical experts remain uncertain about how her brain injury will impact her future development.

Following the incident, police launched a detailed investigation, interviewing the child’s parents and examining the circumstances surrounding the injuries. During subsequent legal proceedings, Mark Spike admitted to shaking the baby after she refused to take her bottle and began crying. His admission was made during a separate hearing in a county court, where he was charged with wounding and grievous bodily harm.

The case has left a lasting impact on the family and community, with concerns about the child's long-term health and well-being. The full extent of her future development remains uncertain, and her family continues to face the emotional aftermath of this tragic event. Our thoughts are with her and her loved ones during this difficult time.