Caroline Thomson, who left a four-week-old baby with brain damage and blindness, has launched an expletive-laden tirade on Facebook, insisting she "never did it" following her release from prison. Thomson, who confessed to assaulting the infant, causing permanent impairment, disfigurement, and endangering his life, has made disturbing posts on the social media platform denying the crime.
Background of the case
Thomson, from Falkirk, was imprisoned for nine years in February 2020 after a High Court judge described her offence as "an appalling crime." However, her sentence was later reduced to six years by appeal judges, who deemed the original punishment excessive compared to similar cases. The baby boy sustained horrific injuries, including fractured ribs and toes, a broken wrist, a detached retina, and bleeding on his brain after being assaulted over a six-week period in 2018. The attack left him with brain damage and blind in one eye.
Facebook rants after release
Thomson, who has been using the names Caroline Drennan and Caroline Anne on Facebook, claimed she could not care less what people think after serving her sentence, reports the Daily Record. Despite pleading guilty to the charge, Thomson proceeded to claim online that she is innocent. In one Facebook post, she wrote: "You f****** stupid bunch of c****. You know f*** all. You believe what the f*** you want. I don't give two f**** no more. I know I never did it. If I did what they said I did, where were the bruises? If I did what they said I did, he would have been black and blue. You know f*** all. You will all do soon, trust me."
Medical evidence and prior denials
At the time of Thomson's sentencing, it was revealed in the High Court in Glasgow that the then two-year-old child could not speak or walk, though he could crawl. Doctors warned that the full extent of his lifelong injuries would not be fully understood until he reached primary school age. Thomson continued to write: "F*** you haters. You know f*** all. (Are) you all that stupid? (It) makes me f****** laugh how stupid you all are. I never pleaded lol. My f****** lawyer took a deal because they f***** me over. I never knew (until) two days later what the deal was. Why do you think I sacked that lawyer and got a new one? You don't know how much I got f***** over but I don't give two f**** what you believe because I know it's f****** a load of shite."
These claims mirror Thomson's previous attempts to deny culpability for the baby's injuries during her sentencing on 24 February 2020. During the trial, prosecutors stated that Thomson had tried to pin some of the baby's injuries on another child, aged two. Thomson also previously suggested to police that the injuries might have occurred when she dropped the baby. Prosecutor Kath Harper stated that both of these claims were "inconsistent with the medical findings." Consultant ophthalmologist Jennifer Ann Gillen testified at the trial that she had never seen such a detached retina in a young baby and said the injury would have necessitated blunt-force trauma.
Sentencing and appeal
During sentencing, Lady Rae told her: "What is particularly concerning in this case is that, despite your plea of guilty, you take no responsibility for what you did. Indeed you deny your guilt, blaming a two year old for some of the injuries. Evidence from medical professionals excludes such a possibility. It is clear, therefore that you have no remorse for what you did. Your conduct toward this child was deplorable." Lady Rae also cautioned the thug that her sentence would have been 10 years if not for her guilty plea. However, Thomson later managed to have her prison term cut from nine years to six on appeal in July 2020. Appeal judges Lord Turnbull and Lord Glennie slashed Thomson's sentence after hearing arguments from defence solicitor Wendy Hay. Thomson's barrister contended that her sentencing was harsher than that of people who had committed similar offences. Consequently, the judges overturned her nine-year sentence and shortened her term to six years. Lord Turnbull said: "It can been seen the sentence passed on the appellant in this case can be seen to be excessive."
