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Man who allowed baby death jailed | Man who allowed baby death jailed |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man has been jailed for more than two years for doing nothing to stop his ex-partner inflicting fatal injuries on her two-month-old son. | A man has been jailed for more than two years for doing nothing to stop his ex-partner inflicting fatal injuries on her two-month-old son. |
Paul Husband, 33, from Newham, east London, was found guilty of neglect over the death of Rhys Biggs. | Paul Husband, 33, from Newham, east London, was found guilty of neglect over the death of Rhys Biggs. |
The boy's mother Claire Biggs, 27, fractured 17 of his ribs. She was jailed for eight years for assault last month at Inner London Crown Court. | The boy's mother Claire Biggs, 27, fractured 17 of his ribs. She was jailed for eight years for assault last month at Inner London Crown Court. |
In 1993 Husband was convicted of child sex abuse in Scotland, the court heard. | In 1993 Husband was convicted of child sex abuse in Scotland, the court heard. |
Passing sentence, Judge Lindsay Burn told him: "You failed to give Rhys the medical help you knew he needed for the distress he was in." | |
Because the cause of Rhys's death in May 2006 could not be established, the pair only faced cruelty charges, the court was told. | Because the cause of Rhys's death in May 2006 could not be established, the pair only faced cruelty charges, the court was told. |
'Horrific' injuries | 'Horrific' injuries |
Claire Biggs previously had a daughter who was taken into care in 2001. | Claire Biggs previously had a daughter who was taken into care in 2001. |
Her son's death has several parallels with the fatal abuse suffered by Baby P in Haringey, east London, as the attacks went unnoticed by health workers despite the mother's history. | Her son's death has several parallels with the fatal abuse suffered by Baby P in Haringey, east London, as the attacks went unnoticed by health workers despite the mother's history. |
The boy's mother Claire Biggs was jailed for eight years for assault | The boy's mother Claire Biggs was jailed for eight years for assault |
After a number of missed opportunities by health agencies and a breakdown in information sharing, Biggs was able to repeatedly crush the child's chest resulting in a "horrific" series of injuries. | After a number of missed opportunities by health agencies and a breakdown in information sharing, Biggs was able to repeatedly crush the child's chest resulting in a "horrific" series of injuries. |
Husband failed to either stop her or help the baby, the court heard. | Husband failed to either stop her or help the baby, the court heard. |
Biggs went on to twice break the child's right wrist and fracture his shoulder. | Biggs went on to twice break the child's right wrist and fracture his shoulder. |
Quinn Hawkins, prosecuting, said Husband had a string of previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty and motoring matters. | Quinn Hawkins, prosecuting, said Husband had a string of previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty and motoring matters. |
But when Husband was 18 he was convicted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff's Court in Scotland for "lewd indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour" with a child. | But when Husband was 18 he was convicted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff's Court in Scotland for "lewd indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour" with a child. |
Judge Burn acknowledged that Husband had played no part in the physical abuse of Rhys Biggs. | |
(Husband) thought of Rhys as his own son - he still struggles with what he could have done to help him Paul Husband's lawyer Sally O'Neill | |
He said: "The jury convicted you of child cruelty in which you failed to give Rhys medical help when it was obvious to you such help was required." | |
The judge added: "They were satisfied that Rhys's mother was solely responsible for the injuries to him." | |
Defending, Sally O'Neill QC said Husband had been "distraught" at the baby's death. | |
She acknowledged that Husband should have done more to help Rhys but said he felt that Biggs "knew best". | |
Ms O'Neill said: "He thought of Rhys as his own son. | |
"He still struggles with what he could have done to help him. He has got to live with that burden for the rest of his life." | |
Husband was also banned from working with children for five years. |