Mother and stepfather charged with alleged murder

It's after a baby was pronounced dead at a house near Swadlincote

Author: Trevor ThomasPublished 6th Jul 2022
Last updated 6th Jul 2022

A mother and stepfather have been charged with the alleged murder of a baby in south Derbyshire.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports that Jacob Crouch was critically ill at a house in Linton, near Swadlincote, at 7.15am on December 30, 2020.

The 10-month-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy’s mother, Gemma Barton, and stepfather, Craig Crouch, were both arrested on 5 January, 2021, on suspicion of his murder. Both were bailed while enquiries continued into the incident.

Today (6 July) the pair have been charged with the alleged murder of Jacob.

Ms Barton, 32, from Heanor and Mr Crouch, 38, from Linton have been remanded to custody and will appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court later today (6 July).

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