PRISON FOR CHILD CRUELTY CASE COUPLE
A mother who waited 18 hours to call for medical help after her boyfriend violently shook their baby son is to have her newborn child taken away.Laura Richards, 24, and her boyfriend, Paul Burns, 28, were both jailed at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.
Burns lost patience with their three-week-old son Liam Richards when he would not stop crying.
He then shook him, causing serious brain injuries.
Liam, now aged 22 months, is unlikely to be able to walk unaided and suffers from epilepsy, with damaged sight.
He will need to attend a special school and is unlikely to lead an independent life.
Yesterday, court heard that Richards was scared to call for help because her four-year-old daughter from a previous relationship had been taken by social services.
It was 18 hours before she sought assistance, by which time Liam was having fits and was barely conscious.
Richards' defense indicated she is pregnant with her third child, which will be taken into care when born.
She expressed guilt over what happened, stating she believes she is not cut out to be a mother and has lost contact with her other children.
Burns was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and child cruelty by neglect.
He was sentenced to four years, while Richards received 12 months.
A social services spokeswoman declined to comment.
