A heartbroken mother has described how her ex-partner's decision to hold a gender reveal party on the anniversary of their baby's death compounded her unimaginable grief, after he was jailed for life for shaking the five-month-old infant to death.
Stepfather's Brutal Attack on Defenceless Baby
Thomas Morgan, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years at Swansea Crown Court for murdering his stepson, Jensen-Lee Dougal. The court heard how Morgan shook the "happy and healthy" baby in a fit of rage following a heated argument with his ex-partner, causing catastrophic brain injuries that proved fatal.
The attack occurred while Jensen-Lee's mother, Jordan Dougal, 24, was working a shift at a village pub. She had left her son in Morgan's care, with the baby smiling as she departed. The infant, who weighed just under 12.5 pounds, suffered numerous fractures and extensive bleeding in both eyes during the violent assault.
Distressing Gender Reveal Adds to Mother's Trauma
In a tearful victim impact statement, Jordan Dougal revealed that her pain was exacerbated when Morgan held a gender reveal party with his new partner on the weekend marking the anniversary of her son's death. She described this act as particularly distressing, stating it demonstrated a lack of genuine remorse for his actions.
"One particular time which was especially distressing is when the defendant and his new partner did a gender reveal on the weekend anniversary of my son's death," she told the court. "He was able to build a future while my son had none."
The mother expressed her devastation at seeing Morgan continue with his life while her family remains shattered by the loss. "I feel like my son's life has been treated as something that can simply be moved on from," she said, highlighting the profound breach of trust she experiences daily.
Catastrophic Injuries and Missed Opportunities
Medical evidence presented in court revealed that Jensen-Lee suffered injuries equivalent to those sustained in a high-velocity traffic collision. One doctor described it as the most severe case of its kind he had encountered throughout his entire career.
Jordan Dougal shared her profound sorrow at the milestones she will never witness with her son. "I never had the chance to hear my son say he loved me and I never heard him call me Mammy," she said. "I will never see him take his first step, go to school or see the person he would go on to become. He was taken from me."
Chaotic Response to Medical Emergency
The court heard how Morgan failed to respond appropriately when Jensen-Lee stopped breathing. Instead of immediately calling emergency services as instructed by Jordan, he took the infant to a neighbour's home seeking assistance.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC explained that an argument between Morgan and the mother of his two children, Georgia Griffiths, had triggered his violent outburst. In a series of abusive text messages exchanged prior to the attack, Morgan had hurled insults including calling Ms Griffiths a "stinking little rat" and a "stinking little dog."
Rees stated that this confrontation "flipped some kind of switch" in Morgan, leaving him "angry and aggressive" and completely unfit to care for a vulnerable child. His temper ultimately snapped, resulting in the violent shaking that caused Jensen-Lee's fatal injuries.
Legal Proceedings and Final Outcome
Morgan, from Gorseinon, had denied charges of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Following trial proceedings, he was found guilty of murder and one charge of grievous bodily harm, while being cleared of two additional GBH allegations.
The tragic sequence of events culminated in March 2024 when Jordan Dougal faced the heartbreaking decision to turn off her son's life support machine. She described holding Jensen-Lee in her arms as he passed away, marking the devastating conclusion to his brief life.
The case has highlighted the profound and lasting impact of violent crimes against children, with the mother's victim statement providing a powerful testament to the ongoing trauma experienced by families in such circumstances. The court's life sentence reflects the gravity of Morgan's actions, while Jordan Dougal's revelations about the gender reveal party underscore the additional emotional burdens borne by victims beyond the legal proceedings.
