A foster carer has described the devastating impact of injuries inflicted on a baby by one of his parents, saying the boy will never be able to "enjoy simple things such as tasting ice cream or chocolate" and "will never be able to walk or play football or other sports like other children his age".
The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just eight weeks old when he suffered a fractured skull caused by either his father Adam Edwards, 34, or his mother Brogan Jones, 29. Both have been convicted of causing/allowing a child to be subjected to serious physical harm and child neglect following a trial.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard Edwards was also found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm but Jones was found not guilty of that charge. The child was assaulted at the family home in Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent, on June 16, 2023, when he was "beaten and shaken" and suffered at least two forcible blows to the head, which caused a fracture to his skull in two places.
After the assault, he was described as "dazed and vacant" and "zombified", as if he didn't know what was going on around him and staring into space. As a result of his injuries the boy was said to be blind due to the brain injury and his voluntary body movements are severely impaired, which means he will not be able to sit, stand or walk.
Life-long care needs
He faces the prospect of curvature of the spine, which will cause pain and require major surgery. His ability to communicate is severely limited, he has life-long muscle spasms which are painful, he suffers seizures, and is fed through a tube in his stomach. The injuries caused to the boy would lead to a shorter life expectancy with children with his condition unlikely to survive past their second or third decade.
Just weeks before the assault, on May 23, 2023, the boy was taken to the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran after his right arm went floppy. This was not picked up by an X-ray taken at the hospital but the baby was later found to have suffered a fractured right humerus at the hands of Edwards, who is believed to have twisted or bent the child's arm with considerable force.
Edwards, of Beech Tree Crescent, Blaina, was sentenced to a total of nine years imprisonment. Jones, of Roundhouse Close, Nantyglo, was sentenced to three years imprisonment suspended for three years. The defendant was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work, 12 sessions of a mental health treatment requirement, a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and a one-to-one probation requirement.
Foster carer's emotional account
During the hearing, the boy's foster carer spoke with emotion about the complex caring needs the now three-year-old requires and the impact his injuries have had upon his life. She said: "He's been in full-time care and part of our family. We love him as one of our own. Caring for him is a lot of hard work and we have learnt a lot as his carers. Before we did not know about his condition, how he needed to be treated or the level of care needed. We were told he was blind and deaf as a result of his injury and has epilepsy."
The foster carer said they quickly found the boy responded to their voices and music. When he first came to their home the boy was bottle-fed but he developed chest infections due to aspiration. The boy now requires a feeding tube 22 hours a day. The witness said activities need to be planned in advance as the boy needs a certain amount of milk and water each day and a large amount of medication.
The court heard the boy is profoundly visually impaired due to the connection between his brain and eyes not working. His blindness was said to have a profound impact on his day-to-day life and development of his hearing, smell, and feeling. The foster carer said the boy is unable to "enjoy simple things such as tasting ice cream or chocolate" and when his feeding tube is adjusted it causes him "pain and distress".
He is not able to be left with anyone who does not know him or who has not been trained in caring for him. Due to severe cerebral palsy he is unable to move independently. The foster carer said: "He will never be able to walk or play football or other sports like other children his age."
The witness said the boy's care will require larger equipment and will mean the family will have to move house. She said: "He will never be able to dress himself, feed himself, or care for himself in any way. He will have to wear nappies for the rest of his life and suffers with daily seizures."
The court heard the boy has a lot of hospital admissions due to chest infections and seizures. The foster carer said: "We love him with all our hearts. His needs are 24/7. He was a massive part of our family. He is our family, our world, and we take him everywhere with us... He's never been able to see the sea. He knows our voices but will never know what his family looks like. Just because he has extra needs it doesn't mean he has to miss out – we just have to do things differently."
The thought of losing him at a young age is beyond words... It breaks our hearts to know he was born a healthy little boy and will have to live with this horrible injury he will have to live with for the rest of his life and will never recover from... [His] life is impacted in every way. His vision, his ability to talk and walk. He should be a cheeky little three-year-old boy running around but he will never be... He brings us so much joy. He lights up our lives, makes us laugh. He's a lovely little boy whose smile lights up the world."
