Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 7th February 2025, at 19:15hrs
The court heard how the injuries inflicted could not of been accidental
A man has been jailed for 25 years for killing a one-year-old boy he was meant to be looking after. The baby’s mother has also been jailed after being pleading guilty to child cruelty.
Christopher Stockton denied murdering Charlie Roberts, but a jury at Teesside Crown Court in December unanimously agreed that the toddler had died from fatal head injuries inflicted by the 38-year-old.
Charlie’s mother Paula Roberts pleaded guilty to child cruelty during the trial after failing to seek medical attention for several injuries he sustained over a nine-month period.
She was today sentenced to four years in prison.
Stockton, who was in a relationship with Roberts, was also found guilty of child cruelty and jailed for eight years. This sentence will run concurrently.
On the morning of January 12 last year, Stockton was alone in the house in Darlington with Charlie after Roberts had left for an optician’s appointment in the town centre.
He called for an ambulance a short time later after he claimed the youngster was playing in a toy tunnel when he started ‘choking’ and became lifeless and floppy.
Paramedics attended and found the youngster had a serious head injury.
Charlie was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly never regained consciousness and died the following day.
Experts said that, given the severity of the injury, it must have been sustained immediately before Stockton called an ambulance and was caused by severe trauma from being shaken or thrown.
Stockton started a relationship with Roberts, 41, in early 2023 and met Charlie on his first birthday in March that year.
In the months that followed, bruising was found on the youngster on several separate occasions.
The relationship between Stockton and Roberts, both of Darlington, became rocky in August and just weeks later Roberts bought a spy camera for Charlie’s bedroom and told a relative that she had concerns about her boyfriend.
During the investigation into Charlie’s death, detectives uncovered a series of photographs on Roberts’ phone which showed the 22-month-old with bruises and injuries to different parts of his body.
Several messages on Roberts’ phone stating she would seek medical help for her son, but then never did, also raised concerns.
She also lied to her employer that Charlie had been admitted to hospital just three days before he died but she never took him to be checked out.
Experts said most of the injuries he sustained would not have been accidental.
Although there is no suggestion it would have provided any information in this case, Clare’s Law enables the police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.
Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, of Durham Constabulary led the investigation.
He said: “Charlie Roberts was a little boy who just wanted to play. A little boy who just wanted to be loved. A little boy who did not deserve to die.
“Christopher Stockton actions are unforgivable and sadly nothing will bring Charlie back but at least he is now facing the consequences of what he has done.
“I urge anyone who has concerns about those caring for children to speak out and ask for help.
“This is a truly heartbreaking case, and my thoughts remain with those who truly cared about Charlie.”
Anyone who has any concerns about the welfare of a child should contact Durham Constabulary on 101, or 999 in an emergency; your local children’s social care team (https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council) or the NSPCC –https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/
To make an application under Clare’s Law, visit Request information under Clare’s Law: https://www.durham.police.uk/rqo/request/ri/request-information/cl/triage/v2/request-information-under-clares-law/
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