Step-dad jailed for murder of Jacob Crouch in Derbyshire

The 10-month-old's mum was also jailed for causing or allowing his death

Author: Matt MaddrenPublished 4th Aug 2023

The step-dad of Jacob Crouch has been jailed for life for the murder of Jacob Crouch in Derbyshire.

The 39-year-old will serve a minimum of 28 years for killing the 10-month-old at the family home on Foxley Chase in Linton in December 2020.

Jacob's mum, 33-year-old Gemma Barton was jailed for 10 years, for causing and allowing the death of a child.

The pair have appeared at Derby Crown Court this morning (Friday) to be sentenced.

Jacob Crouch was pronounced dead at a home in Linton on the 30th December 2020. He was found to have dozens of bruises and internal injuries.

After his death - a post mortem revealed he had suffered at least 39 rib fractures.

During the trial, Barton told Derby Crown Court that she did not inflict the injuries that killed her son, nor did she see them inflicted by anyone else.

As well as denying ever harming her son, Barton said she "can't remember seeing" any of the 19 visible bruises on Jacob's body at the time of his death.

The trial previously heard from medical experts that blunt force trauma was the only plausible explanation for the bowel injury, which led to a fatal infection.

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