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Baby P’s stepfather guilty of new child abuse horror
Paul Cheston and Jack Lefley1 May 2009
The stepfather of Baby P was today convicted of new child abuse charges as the full scale of Haringey council's failings was revealed.
In a historic case which can be reported for the first time today the stepfather was found guilty of raping a two-year-old girl and Baby P's mother was cleared of child cruelty.
That left Haringey and its disgraced former head of children's services Sharon Shoesmith back under the spotlight after it emerged that the toddler was on the child protection register.
Last November Baby P's stepfather and mother were convicted of causing or allowing his death from a catalogue of appalling injuries. Together with lodger Jason Owen, they had been cleared of murder as it could not be established who struck the fatal blows.
Haringey social workers — who failed to protect 17-month-old Baby P, who can be named today as Peter, despite 60 visits and him being on the at-risk register — now face further criticism. The girl, who is now four, was the youngest witness ever to give evidence at the Old Bailey. The two-week trial has been covered by a news blackout imposed by the judge to enable the two defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to receive a fair trial.
The defendants were even given false names so that jurors could not connect them to the Baby P trial. The girl first made the anal rape allegation to her foster mother indicating it had taken place before she was taken into care. She appeared to retract what she had said a few weeks later in November 2007 but repeated it to a doctor, child expert and social worker in January last year.
At that time she said she had been touched and, pointing to her bottom, “it hurt all day”, adding that Baby P's mother was there and had told the boyfriend not to do it. She showed what happened using a doll, teddy bear and toy bed.
In April last year, a 45-minute interview with detectives was video recorded in which she gave a more detailed account. She said that the boyfriend had “hurt me” and P's mother had merely told him: “Don't do it again.”
In the interview played to the jury the girl lies on the floor and shows how the boyfriend crouched over her holding himself up by his arms “like penguins do”. Defence lawyers tried to have her allegations thrown out on the grounds that she was too young, unreliable and had been open to suggestibility.
But Judge Stephen Kramer ruled that she had shown her “understanding, intelligence and an ability to communicate” and had “passed the test” as a competent witness.
Because of her age, he described her evidence as “maybe on the edge of reliability” but said which side of the edge was for the jury to decide.
Psychiatrists who studied the interview said that the child was spontaneous, robust and showed independence of thought. The jury was told that the medical examination of the girl provided inconclusive evidence of whether or not a sexual attack had taken place.
After the video had been played the girl was cross examined by defence lawyers over a video link to a separate room in the court building. She appeared frightened when the boyfriend's name was mentioned and lapsed into long silences when asked about him. However she did confirm that what she had said in the police video was the truth and not a “fib”.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty but neither entered the witness box.
The mother told police she had never seen her boyfriend do anything wrong to the child and, if she had, would have stopped him immediately.
Reader views (11)
Please tell me England is going to do something so these people cannot hurt another child. I can't believe this was allowed to happen and if so why the social workers have not lose their jobs, they were suppose to protect these children and did nothing.
- Nancy, El Paso TX, 18/12/2009 20:00
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How dare anyone defend this behaviour it's incomprehensible to me that he could even find a defence team. That poor little girl - at least she has been believed and she will get the right help. The people who perpetrated these horrific crimes have been found guilty and those who facilitated it by turning a blind eye should be in prison along side them. He must have left a trail of damage - I hope the police are checking how many other children he has come into contact with in his lifetime.
- Real, London, 18/12/2009 19:00
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<i>Defence lawyers tried to have her allegations thrown out on the grounds that she was too young, unreliable and had been open to suggestibility.</i>
And how much were THESE individuals getting paid for their services??
Publish the names and addresses of these people. They are even worse than the sub-human torturers.
- Peter, Stevenage, 18/12/2009 19:00
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Quote; Last November Baby P's stepfather and mother were convicted of causing or allowing his death from a catalogue of appalling injuries. Together with lodger Jason Owen, they had been cleared of murder as it could not be established who struck the fatal blows.
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All three are guilty of conspiracy to murder.
All three are guilty of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder.
The charges carry the same sentences as the actual murder of anyone.
Why is this law never used by the CPS?
Children have no human rights in Great Britain today.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 18/12/2009 19:00
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Closure of this Councils dept. that handled poor Baby P must happen now at the very least. Bring back the death penalty for the stepfather and his like for they are not human
- Mike, London England, 18/12/2009 19:00
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How many more cases does this vile man have outstanding?
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 18/12/2009 19:00
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Most of us who saw a news story about these two before the Baby P case already know their names and identities, so what's the point in namby-pambying around and still protecting their anonymity them in the media?
Name and shame - obviously the other inmates where they are know who these nonces are, so why keep it a secret?
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 18/12/2009 19:00
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If ever there is a compelling case for reintroducing the death penalty then this is it.
Hopefully they will be treated with the same respect in prison that they have afforded to the children in their care.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 18/12/2009 19:00
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lowlife scum springs to mind
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france, 18/12/2009 19:00
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Bring back the Death sentence.
- David, london, 18/12/2009 19:00
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"The mother told police she had never seen her boyfriend do anything wrong to the child and, if she had, would have stopped him immediately."
The question is would she have gone to the police?
Defence Lawyers have their place however I some times wonder how they can represent the people they do perhaps it's for the money.
- Mike M, Bedford England, 18/12/2009 19:00
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