NIGEL NEWTON FROM WITHERNSEA SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL BABY SHAKING IN HULL AND HMP ATTACK

In May 2018, Nigel Newton, a man from Withernsea, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of causing severe injuries to a baby through violent shaking. The incident, which took place in Hull, resulted in lifelong health consequences for the infant and drew widespread condemnation.

Newton, aged 24 at the time, was found guilty by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial held last year. The court heard that Newton had previously been caught laughing after locking the baby in a boiler cupboard, an act that underscored his callousness. Despite denying the attack on the child, Newton showed no visible emotion during his sentencing at Hull Crown Court. The courtroom was filled with gasps and muffled sobs from the public gallery as the severity of his actions was revealed.

While on bail for the initial assault, Newton did not cease his violent behavior. Instead, he engaged in a spree of drunken violence across Hull, accompanied by another man, Ryan Mawer, aged 19. This violent episode included a particularly vicious joint attack on a man with learning difficulties, further illustrating Newton’s pattern of aggressive conduct.

The court detailed the horrific injuries inflicted on the baby, who was discovered at a property in Withernsea in a critically reduced state of consciousness. The infant was suffering from a seizure, appeared pale, and was experiencing breathing difficulties. Medical examinations at Hull Royal Infirmary revealed internal bleeding within the skull and burst blood vessels in the child's eyes, indicating the severity of the trauma.

Medical reports described the child's condition as dire, with weakness on the left side of his body affecting his arm and leg, and a subdural fluid collection in his skull that should not have been present. The injuries were described as exceptionally serious, with potential lifelong consequences. The child's developmental progress was also noted to be behind his peers, with a teacher reporting poor coordination, difficulty holding a pencil, and a short concentration span. His grandmother, who publicly condemned Newton as “evil,” expressed her concern that the child's struggles would persist as he grows older.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, the Recorder of Hull and East Riding, delivered a stern sentence, stating, “You richly deserve that sentence. You maimed that child.” He emphasized the high level of culpability, highlighting Newton’s deliberate act of shaking the infant with considerable violence. The judge underscored the profound impact of the attack on the child and his family, describing the consequences as “exceptionally serious.”

Adding to the gravity of the case, last week the child's mother received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to allowing the serious physical harm of her child. She was found to have failed to act on warnings about Newton’s violent tendencies.

In a related incident in July 2017, Newton was attacked in HMP Hull’s exercise yard by fellow inmates, who shouted “baby-killer” at him. He sustained injuries including a swollen eye and a cut inside his mouth, and was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment, including an X-ray to check for cheekbone fractures. Newton was later returned to prison.

During his trial, Newton was described as ‘truly wicked’ for causing such grievous harm. An anonymous family friend recounted that Newton claimed he went outside the yard due to a fire inside the prison, only to be confronted and assaulted by other inmates who accused him of killing a baby. Newton maintained his innocence, asserting he was not a baby killer.

As of now, Newton remains in custody, awaiting further sentencing scheduled for the upcoming Friday at Hull Crown Court. The case continues to evoke strong emotions from the community and the family affected by his actions, highlighting the tragic consequences of violence and neglect.