MICHELLE HODSON FROM BAMBER BRIDGE AND PRESTON SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON TODDLER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Bamber Bridge and Preston, Michelle Hodson, aged 23, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a violent assault on a young child. The incident occurred between May 8 and July 13, 2012, near Preston, Lancashire, where Hodson, who at the time was residing without a fixed address, inflicted severe injuries on a toddler that nearly resulted in her death.

Hodson’s actions involved violently pushing the young girl to the ground, causing her to hit her head and face with such force that she sustained critical head injuries, including bleeding on the brain. The severity of the injuries was evident when paramedics arrived at the scene to find Hodson, who was reportedly playing on her phone, while the injured child lay on the ground with her eyes half-open and suffering from a seizure. The child's condition was dire, prompting immediate medical intervention.

The young victim was swiftly transported to Royal Preston Hospital, where doctors initially feared she might not survive the journey to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital’s neurological centre. Emergency surgery was performed to alleviate the pressure on her brain, and she was transferred to the specialized children’s hospital, where she remained for 11 days receiving intensive, life-saving treatment. Remarkably, the child eventually made a full recovery, with consultant paediatrician Dr. Peter Urquart describing her recovery as 'astonishing.'

Throughout the investigation, Hodson provided inconsistent accounts of the incident. She initially claimed that the child had fallen and even suggested that another child was responsible for pushing her, which was contradicted by medical evidence and witness testimonies. Her attempts to deceive authorities were part of the reason she was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

At Preston Crown Court, Hodson sobbed uncontrollably as she was led away to begin her seven-year sentence. Her plea of guilty to causing grievous bodily harm was accepted by the court, which also heard about her attempts to mislead police and medical staff regarding the circumstances of the injury.

In a related case, Paul Young, aged 28, of The Paddock, Fulwood, was sentenced to four months in prison for neglecting a child by failing to seek medical assistance when he was in a position to do so. This case was also heard during the same court session, highlighting the broader concerns about child safety and neglect in the Preston area.