Stepdad told police toddler ‘choked on a hobnob’ after shaking him to death

A stepdad who tried to claim his partner’s one-year-old ‘choked on a hobnob’ after inflicting catastrophic head injuries by violently shaking or throwing him has been convicted of murder.

Christopher Stockton, 38, called 999 just after 9am on January 12 saying toddler Charlie Roberts had gone ‘floppy’ and wasn’t breathing at their home in Darlington.

He told police, paramedics and doctors the youngster had choked on a biscuit and that he patted Charlie on the back and put his fingers down his throat. Charlie died in hospital the following day.

But jurors at Teesside Crown Court heard he suffered a severe head injury which caused widespread bleeding on the brain.

Charlie’s mum Paula Roberts, 41, had only left the toddler with Stockton 20 minutes earlier to go for an eye test, the court heard.

Jurors heard Stockton lost his temper with Charlie in that 20-minute window between Roberts leaving and his 999 call.

Stockton was off sick from work that day and had stayed up into the early hours playing Xbox games.

He had only moved in with Roberts and her son seven days before killing him.

But the court was told Charlie had been suffering unexplained bruises for months before he died.

Even Roberts was suspicious enough about the injuries to install a spy camera above her son’s cot.

But after confiding those initial concerns to her brother she failed to report them or to summon any help for him.

Roberts pleaded guilty to neglect during the trial.

She admitted failing to seek medical help for her little boy in December and January after he suffered injuries to his private parts and to his ear.

Social services were concerned about the little boy’s welfare at home with his mother after he was taken to hospital in May 2023 with bruising, but no action was taken at the time.

Roberts tried to explain that bruises on Charlie’s ear months later were caused by him resting on his toy box while he was sleepwalking or from falling out of bed.

Dr Deborah Stalker, an expert paediatrician and specialist in child protection, studied photos of Charlie while was alive, medical experts and post-mortem images.

She said: ‘In my opinion, this is a non-accidental injury, by that I mean it is a purposefully-inflicted injury. Accidental injuries to the ear are very rare.’

Stockton was also found guilty of child cruelty.

Mr Justice Goss will sentence the pair next month, once reports have been prepared on Roberts.

Outside court, Dominic Tate, of CPS North East, said: ‘It is clear from the evidence in this case that Christopher Stockton murdered Charlie Roberts.

‘After being left in charge of Charlie at 8.45am, our case was that he lost his temper within that crucial twenty minutes preceding his emergency call, before throwing Charlie with sufficient violence to cause catastrophic head injuries.’

Outside court, Charlie’s dad Barry Greenwell said: ‘Charlie was a much-loved son and grandson who has been taken away needlessly and has left the whole family with a void that will never be filled.

‘As a family we are processing the recent events and are trying to come to terms with the verdict and information given that has been deeply disturbing to ourselves.’

Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, who led the inquiry, said: ‘Christopher Stockton was entrusted with caring for Charlie on the morning of Friday, January 12.

‘It was his responsibility to keep Charlie safe.

‘He didn’t do that. He is the only person who knows exactly what happened that morning but what we do know is his actions resulted in this little boy’s death.

‘To install a spy camera as Paula Roberts did, means there must have been concerns about him. If you have concerns about those caring for your children, you must act, speak out or ask for help.

‘Charlie had everything to live for, but his life was cruelly cut short. My thoughts go out to those who truly cared about Charlie.’

An NSPCC spokesperson said: ‘Charlie’s tragic death at the hands of the man who was supposed to be caring for him is heartbreaking.

‘Children, especially young babies, rely on the adults around them to keep them safe, and so are particularly vulnerable to abuse. 

‘Stockton’s brutal actions have robbed Charlie’s family of seeing him grow up, and our thoughts are with all those who knew and loved this little boy.’

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