Caroline Thomson, who left a four-week-old baby brain damaged and blind, has launched an online foul-mouthed rant insisting she 'never did it' upon her release from prison. Thomson, who admitted assaulting the infant to his permanent impairment, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life, made chilling posts on Facebook denying the crime after being set free.
Conviction and Sentence
The Falkirk woman was originally jailed for nine years in February 2020 after a High Court judge branded her offending 'an appalling crime'. However, her sentence was later cut to six years just months later by appeal judges, who ruled the original punishment was excessive compared with similar cases. The baby boy suffered 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 brain damaged and blind in one eye.
Online Denials
Thomson, who has been using the names Caroline Drennan and Caroline Anne on Facebook, insisted she couldn't give 'two f**ks' what people think after serving her sentence. Despite pleading guilty to the charge, Thomson went on to claim online that she is innocent. In one Facebook post, she wrote: 'You f*****g stupid bunch of c***s. You know f**k all. You believe what the f**k you want. I don't give two f**ks 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**k all. You will all do soon, trust me.'
She went on to write: 'F**k you haters. You know f**k all. (Are) you all that stupid? (It) makes me f*****g laugh how stupid you all are. I never pleaded lol. My f*****g lawyer took a deal because they f****d 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****d over but I don't give two f**ks what you believe because I know it's f*****g a load of shite.'
Previous Denials and Medical Evidence
The claims echo Thomson's previous attempts to deny responsibility for the baby's injuries during her sentencing on February 24, 2020. During the case, prosecutors said Thomson had tried to blame another child, aged two, for some of the baby's injuries. Thomson also previously told police the injuries may have been caused when she dropped the baby. Prosecutor Kath Harper said that both of these claims were 'inconsistent with the medical findings'. Consultant ophthalmologist Jennifer Ann Gillen told the trial she had never seen such a detached retina in a young baby and said the injury would have required blunt-force trauma.
Judge's Remarks and Appeal
Being sentenced, 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 warned the brute that her sentence would have been 10 years if not for her guilty plea. Although, Thomson later succeeded in having her prison sentence reduced from nine years to six on appeal in July 2020. Appeal judges Lord Turnbull and Lord Glennie reduced Thomson’s sentence after hearing submissions from defence lawyer Wendy Hay. Thomson's lawyer argued that her sentencing was longer than that of people who had committed similar offences. As a result, the judges quashed her nine year sentence and reduced 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.'
