BLAENAU GWEINT FATHER MATTHEW JONES SENTENCED FOR BABY'S DEATH IN EBBW VALE
| Red Rose Database
Blaenau Gwent Sexual Abuser
In July 2019, a tragic case unfolded in Newport Crown Court involving a father from Blaenau Gwent who was convicted of causing the death of his infant son through severe physical abuse. Matthew Jones, aged 26 and originally from Ebbw Vale, was found guilty of manslaughter after a three-week trial that revealed the horrifying extent of injuries inflicted upon his 15-week-old son, Cody Rhys Williams-Jones, in December 2016.
Jones, who was also known to have connections to Newbridge and South Bank, broke down in tears when the jury delivered their verdict, just seconds after acquitting him of murder. The court heard that Jones had lost his temper in frustration while alone with his crying son, leading to a series of violent actions that resulted in catastrophic injuries. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Simon Picken, addressed the court, explaining that Jones had "lost it" during a moment of anger, which ultimately led to the tragic death of Cody.
Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC detailed the extent of the injuries sustained by the infant, describing them as comparable to the damage caused by a high-speed car crash. The medical evidence presented in court painted a grim picture: Cody had suffered from brain swelling, retinal hemorrhages—small, numerous bleeds in both eyes—and multiple broken ribs, including a fractured shoulder. The severity of these injuries was such that a specialist in the field testified that the trauma was consistent with being involved in a high-impact collision.
At the time of the incident, Jones was employed as an electrical engineer at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant, working long hours. He and Cody’s mother, Paula Williams, shared a home in Ebbw Vale, a three-bedroom house where the tragic events unfolded. The court was shown text and WhatsApp messages between Jones and Williams, which suggested that Jones had a temper and had referred to Cody in derogatory terms, calling him a “pleb.” Despite these revelations, Jones maintained that he was a loving father and claimed that the injuries resulted from an accidental fall.
According to Jones, on the evening of December 7, 2016, he called Paula Williams because Cody would not stop crying. She advised him to stay calm and to use teething gel to soothe the baby. However, shortly afterward, Jones called her again, visibly distressed and screaming, saying, “It’s the baby; I don’t know what is wrong.” He explained to the court that he had dropped Cody onto a mattress at the bottom of a bed, causing him to land on his neck and bounce about two feet into the air before flipping over and becoming floppy. Jones described how he then picked up his son, who sank into his arms and made choking noises, indicating he was not breathing properly. He expressed panic, stating, “Cody had never been like that before,” but the jury rejected his account.
Following the incident, Cody’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The next day, his life support was turned off after doctors confirmed the extent of his injuries. A post-mortem examination revealed that Cody had suffered from previous injuries, including fractured ribs and a fractured shoulder, indicating a history of abuse. The medical findings confirmed that the injuries were not consistent with an accidental fall but rather the result of deliberate violence, likely involving both shaking and impact.
Jones was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in Cody’s death. The court’s decision underscored the brutality of the injuries inflicted and the tragic loss of a young life. The case drew widespread attention to the dangers of child abuse and the devastating consequences of parental violence. The family of Cody, devastated by the loss, expressed their grief and the profound impact of the tragedy, emphasizing that Cody had “everything to live for” and that his life was cruelly taken away by his own father. The case remains a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the devastating effects of unchecked anger and violence within families.
Jones, who was also known to have connections to Newbridge and South Bank, broke down in tears when the jury delivered their verdict, just seconds after acquitting him of murder. The court heard that Jones had lost his temper in frustration while alone with his crying son, leading to a series of violent actions that resulted in catastrophic injuries. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Simon Picken, addressed the court, explaining that Jones had "lost it" during a moment of anger, which ultimately led to the tragic death of Cody.
Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC detailed the extent of the injuries sustained by the infant, describing them as comparable to the damage caused by a high-speed car crash. The medical evidence presented in court painted a grim picture: Cody had suffered from brain swelling, retinal hemorrhages—small, numerous bleeds in both eyes—and multiple broken ribs, including a fractured shoulder. The severity of these injuries was such that a specialist in the field testified that the trauma was consistent with being involved in a high-impact collision.
At the time of the incident, Jones was employed as an electrical engineer at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant, working long hours. He and Cody’s mother, Paula Williams, shared a home in Ebbw Vale, a three-bedroom house where the tragic events unfolded. The court was shown text and WhatsApp messages between Jones and Williams, which suggested that Jones had a temper and had referred to Cody in derogatory terms, calling him a “pleb.” Despite these revelations, Jones maintained that he was a loving father and claimed that the injuries resulted from an accidental fall.
According to Jones, on the evening of December 7, 2016, he called Paula Williams because Cody would not stop crying. She advised him to stay calm and to use teething gel to soothe the baby. However, shortly afterward, Jones called her again, visibly distressed and screaming, saying, “It’s the baby; I don’t know what is wrong.” He explained to the court that he had dropped Cody onto a mattress at the bottom of a bed, causing him to land on his neck and bounce about two feet into the air before flipping over and becoming floppy. Jones described how he then picked up his son, who sank into his arms and made choking noises, indicating he was not breathing properly. He expressed panic, stating, “Cody had never been like that before,” but the jury rejected his account.
Following the incident, Cody’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The next day, his life support was turned off after doctors confirmed the extent of his injuries. A post-mortem examination revealed that Cody had suffered from previous injuries, including fractured ribs and a fractured shoulder, indicating a history of abuse. The medical findings confirmed that the injuries were not consistent with an accidental fall but rather the result of deliberate violence, likely involving both shaking and impact.
Jones was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in Cody’s death. The court’s decision underscored the brutality of the injuries inflicted and the tragic loss of a young life. The case drew widespread attention to the dangers of child abuse and the devastating consequences of parental violence. The family of Cody, devastated by the loss, expressed their grief and the profound impact of the tragedy, emphasizing that Cody had “everything to live for” and that his life was cruelly taken away by his own father. The case remains a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the devastating effects of unchecked anger and violence within families.