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Paedophile who ignored baby's injuries jailed for year
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent3 Aug 2009
A convicted paedophile was today jailed for neglecting a newborn baby by failing to seek medical aid for the child's injuries.
Paul Henman, 21, allowed the three-week-old girl to suffer four broken ribs and a damaged ankle in his care. He even took her to a party, where she constantly screamed in agony. Guests insisted he take her to doctors, which he did not do until 9pm the next day. He admitted he was sickened by the sound of the baby's broken back but had done nothing.
The judge at Snaresbrook crown court said the baby had been subjected to an "extremely serious assault" and was neglected between 6 and 16 March last year. Henman, of Bow, and partner Rachel Carl, 20, of Poplar, were last month cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Henman, who had previously been jailed for sex acts with a teenage girl, admitted child cruelty and was jailed for a year. Carl was acquitted of the same charge.
Today's sentencing came on the anniversary of the death of Baby P. Balloons and toys were left at a vigil at the north London grave of the 17-month-old boy, who died of injuries inflicted by his mother's boyfriend two years ago.
Reader views (4)
How comes the mother doesn't get any sentence. Surely she won't have care of this baby! I'm astonished - who harmed the baby. Does anyone care. Certainly puts the baby P case into perspective. Break a child's back and gert charged with neglect if you have a previosu conviction. If you don't then you get off scot free. The article talks about the partner, but we know this was the mother. She gets away with it and is able to chose another low life sex offender to harm her child and she'll get off again but .... I know lets blame the social workers.A convicted paedophile was today jailed for neglecting a newborn baby by failing to seek medical aid for the child's injuries.
- Ellen, London, 05/08/2009 21:15
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What a pity we couldn't extradite him to the US to stand trial. He might have got a fair sentence there.
- Paul, Rochester UK, 03/08/2009 17:50
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That is disgusting. I am ashamed to live in the UK now. Justice is a joke.
- Jan, Romford, 03/08/2009 17:49
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a year!!!! for breaking a babies back and ribs??? what planet as the judge on? how is this sicko not in jail for life?? someone please explain....
- Gary, amersham, 03/08/2009 17:02
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