NICHOLAS LESSITER AND REBECCA BARNES BRUTALIZE TODDLER IN RUTHIN AND RHYL

In September 2017, a heartbreaking case unfolded involving the severe abuse of a 20-month-old boy in the towns of Ruthin and Rhyl. The young child was subjected to a series of brutal assaults that left him battered, bruised, bitten, and with a fractured collarbone, all while entrusted to the care of individuals who were supposed to be his protectors.

During a period when his mother was away for four days, attending to the process of moving into a new flat, the toddler was left in the care of Rebecca Barnes, a 22-year-old woman and a friend of the child's mother. Barnes, who was supposed to be looking after the boy, was present at her home in Ruthin. Unbeknownst to the mother, Barnes's boyfriend, Nicholas Lessiter, 26, was also involved in the abuse. The court heard that Lessiter carried out a series of sadistic acts against the child, acts so severe that they were described as 'sadistic' during the trial at Mold Crown Court.

Both Barnes and Lessiter were sentenced to prison for their roles in the abuse. Lessiter received a five-year sentence, while Barnes was handed a two-and-a-half-year term. Notably, Lessiter was cleared of the charge of raping the child, but both were convicted of child cruelty. The court also imposed a lifetime ban preventing either from approaching the child's mother or the boy himself.

The child's mother took to the witness stand to deliver a powerful victim impact statement. She expressed that the trauma inflicted on her son and her family was beyond words. She described her devastation and the profound guilt she felt for trusting Barnes to care for her son during her absence. She recounted that she believed Barnes was a good friend and that she was grateful for her help, which was arranged so she could focus on finding a new home. However, her trust was tragically misplaced.

In her statement, she admitted that leaving her son in Barnes’s care was the worst decision she had ever made, a choice that would haunt her for the rest of her life. She described her feelings of guilt and regret, questioning how she could have made such an error in judgment. The child's injuries were so severe that he had to be taken into care, and she was only allowed supervised visits three times a week. She shared her anguish over not being able to comfort her son during his most vulnerable moments and her heartbreak over missing out on the early days of her second child's life.

Despite the pain, she worked closely with social services to demonstrate her love and commitment to her son. Her efforts paid off when her son was eventually returned to her, an event she described as the 'best day of her life.' She expressed her gratitude for the second chance to be a mother and vowed never to let her son down again. She described her son as a beautiful and intelligent little boy, whose innocence was marred by the cruelty inflicted upon him.

The court heard that by the time the boy was returned to his mother, he was almost unrecognizable due to the injuries sustained. Barnes had presented herself as the child's grandmother, even convincing her own family members of this false identity. During their care, Barnes sent photographs of the boy to his mother to reassure her that he was doing well. However, the reality was far more disturbing. When the injuries came to light, Barnes apologized for a facial injury, claiming the boy had fallen. Both Barnes and Lessiter denied any wrongdoing during police interviews, offering various explanations for the injuries, including tripping over a brush.

The court found that Lessiter and Barnes had admitted to child cruelty, with Barnes acknowledging that she was aware of the injuries but failed to seek medical help. The sentences handed down reflected the severity of their crimes, with Lessiter receiving five years and Barnes two and a half years. The court also emphasized the lifelong consequences of their actions, banning them from approaching the mother and her son for life. Additionally, the couple's own child has since been placed for adoption, further highlighting the tragic aftermath of their abuse.