Toddler was 'shaken to death after seven months of abuse', court hears

A toddler was murdered by his stepfather months after his mother installed a spy camera where he slept out of concern for his safety, a court heard today.

Social services had also investigated after little Charlie Roberts was taken to hospital with bruises around his head, but they accepted the injuries were non-accidental and took no action.

The 21-month-old boy died after being allegedly shaken violently or thrown with force when left alone in the care of stepfather Christopher Stockton, 38, by mother-of-five Paula Roberts, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Stockton rang 999, less than 20 minutes after Roberts, 41, left for an early morning optician's appointment, claiming the youngster was 'choking' on a biscuit.

He was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. Scans showed he had bleeding on brain and died from serious non-accidental head injuries, said prosecutor Nicholas Lumley, KC.

The jury was told Stockton had little sleep after spending most of the night before playing online games, watching TV and shopping online.

Mr Lumley said: 'In a very short time, for that is all it takes to lose one's temper isn't it, he must have assaulted Charlie by shaking or throwing him with considerable force.'

He said his actions 'may have been quickly and bitterly regretted' but 'it was no accident.'

Roberts was in tears in the dock as the 999 call was played to the court, including the ambulance service operator giving Stockton instructions how to give Charlie CPR and the kiss-of-life.

Stockton denies murder and child neglect. Roberts denies child neglect. Mr Lumley said Roberts only had a brief relationship with Charlie's father.

In early 2023 Roberts, who worked at an indoor climbing centre, began a relationship with Stockton, who worked at a firm in Stockton-on-Tees.

Stockton began spending time at Roberts' home in Darlington from around Charlie's first birthday.

Mr Lumley said staff at Charlie's nursery noticed bruising on his forehead in April 2023 and again the following month.

Charlie was taken to Darlington Hospital in late May with bruising around both eyes and his forehead. Roberts told hospital staff he had fallen many times, the court heard.

Mr Lumley said: 'Social services held meetings, concerned for Charlie's welfare. At that stage, it was not thought that the injuries were non-accidental and no action was taken.'

By August the couple's relationship had become 'rocky.' 

Roberts installed a 'spy camera' hidden in a 'hanging plant' in her bedroom, where Charlie also slept in a cot at that age, said Mr Lumley.

'She told her brother she was concerned about Christopher Stockton and Charlie,' he said.

Further bruising appeared on the toddler in early January.

Three days before Charlie suffered his fatal injury Roberts told a friend her son had fallen out of bed and 'banged his head' suffering possible 'concussion.' 

She then lied to her manager at work about him being taken to hospital and searched the internet for information on 'bruising.'

Bruising to the toddler's ears was noticed two days later by Roberts' brother and she claimed the boy had been sleep-walking and he was found asleep in his toy box in a wardrobe.

Stockton was sleeping on the sofa by this stage. He spent the night before the incident on the internet and watching TV, getting only 'about two or three hours sleep,' said Mr Lumley.

Within minutes of Roberts leaving the house at 8.45am he rang 999 and told the operator Charlie was 'barely breathing' and was 'floppy,' the court heard. 

Stockton claimed he had choked on a biscuit and could be heard saying 'come on Charlie, cough it up' during the call as paramedics raced to the house.

They found him 'lifeless' on the floor and he was rushed to hospital. There was nothing obstructing his airway but scans showed 'bleeding in and around his brain,' the court heard.

Doctors concluded the injuries were from an 'inflicted trauma' and arrested Stockton and Roberts.

A post mortem was carried out and experts consulted. Mr Lumley said Charlie's injuries couldn't be explained by a 'bump or fall' or natural disease.

Cause of death was said to be from 'forceful shaking or twisting of his head' causing irreparable brain damage.

Mr Lumley said Stockton must be responsible for his death as he was healthy when his mother left the house and minutes later had collapsed.

In interviews with police Stockton repeated his account that Charlie choked on a biscuit.

The prosecutor told the jury Stockton insists he did not cause the boy's death and denies harming or neglecting him. 

Roberts is expected to claim the marks and bruises on her son over the months were the result of 'everyday' bumps and certainly not caused by her.

The judge Mr Justice Goss told the jury that the prosecution does not need to prove Stockton intended to kill Charlie. They need to prove he intended to cause 'really serious harm' for Stockton to be guilty of murder.

The case continues.