04 August 2023 , 14:32
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A dad has shared his heartbreak at never being able to celebrate his son’s 18th birthday with a pint together, as his killer is jailed for life.
Andrew Smith read out a heartbreaking statement at Derby Crown Court today about his son ten-month-old Jacob Crouch - who was found dead in his cot after enduring "significant pain and suffering" in a horrific catalogue of physical abuse. Jacob was left with extensive injuries by his stepdad Craig Crouch, who was sentenced to life behind bars. He will serve a minimum of 28 years.
Jacob's mum, Gemma Barton, was also jailed for 10 years for causing or allowing his death and child cruelty, after being cleared of murder and manslaughter. Crouch assaulted the young baby on a "regular basis" and left him with nine rib fractures, 19 visible bruises and internal injuries likened to those seen in car crash victims.
Little Jacob Crouch (PA)
The little youngster suffered horrific treatment at the hands of his mum and stepdad (PA)At court today, in a victim personal statement, Jacob’s dad paid a touching tribute to the son he "never got to meet". In the statement, read out in court by prosecutor, Mary Prior KC, Andrew said: "I never got to meet him. All I have is a photo to remember him by. I will never be able to hug him and celebrate his achievements.
"I will never be able to buy him his first pint when he turns 18. You have taken Jacob and all the memories we would have shared.
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"The pain will be with me for a lifetime. It will never go away. I can't understand how or why you could inflict the injuries you did, Craig. My boy has some justice now, but it will never be enough for his suffering."
Following a seven-week trial, Crouch, 39, was found guilty of Jacob’s murder on Wednesday. Members of the packed public gallery, and some of the nine members of the 11-person jury who returned to watch the sentencing, wept as the statements were read detailing the impact of Jacob's murder.
The youngster died in his cot at his home in Foxley Chase, Linton, Derbyshire, on December 30, 2020 after being "assaulted on a regular basis" by Crouch for six months, prosecutor Mary Prior KC said. He succumbed to a fatal infection after sustaining a traumatic bowel injury, caused by blunt force trauma such as a punch, kick or stamp by Crouch.
Jailing Crouch at Derby Crown Court today, Mr Justice Kerr said the offence was "an abuse of trust of the grossest kind". He said: "He was a small baby who had not yet learned to walk or talk. Sadly, he never did so.
Craig Crouch, 39, who was found guilty at Derby Crown Court of murdering 10-month-old baby Jacob Crouch (PA)
Gemma Barton, 33 (PA)"To state the obvious, he could not defend himself. You caused Jacob acute physical and mental suffering. You inflicted first bruises, and then fractured ribs on this little baby. You have not shown any remorse for what you did. You have not explained what you did, or apologised."
Addressing Barton, he said: "You noticed the bruises and did nothing to protect him from suffering these injuries. You either knew or should have known the risk to Jacob from Mr Crouch, and did nothing to protect him from it.
"I am sure you knew that Jacob's plight was serious. You failed to take such steps that you reasonably should have been expected to have undertaken. The evidence was there to see, but you failed to face up to it."
Mr Justice Kerr jailing Crouch at Derby Crown Court todayIn his victim statement, Malcolm Barton, Jacob's maternal grandfather, said Crouch told "huge and unbelievable" lies. He said: "He (Crouch) seemed like he was trying overly hard to impress Gemma and us, and we knew he was a liar.
"Gemma told us that she was going to give Jacob the surname Crouch when he was born, which we thought was inappropriate. We started questioning Gemma and becoming suspicious of him.
"We did not like Craig at all. His lies were huge and unbelievable but he did not come over to me as a violent person. He (Jacob) was such a happy little lad. He was sitting on the floor and crawling about and I remember he was playing with his great-grandad's walking stick.
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"We have lost the opportunity to see Jacob grow up, we will never see him have his 18th birthday, get married and have children of his own."
Barton sobbed as the statements were read out, while Crouch looked on silently. Crouch, of Donisthorpe Lane, Moira, Leicestershire, was also found guilty of three counts of child cruelty, with Barton, of Ray Street, Heanor, Derbyshire, convicted of one count of the same offence. The trial had previously heard that after Barton and Mr Smith had separated, he was convicted of an offence of battery against her, with Barton then meeting Crouch while she was four months pregnant.