Parents jailed for causing death of baby daughter in Stone
Ava Mae Collard was just five months old when she died.
Last updated 27th Jul 2023
The parents of a five month-old girl whose death they caused have been sentenced.
Rebecca Grocott, 27, of Stone, and Joshua Collard, 30, of Stafford, were found guilty of causing/allowing the death of a child, physical harm to a child and two counts of assaulting/neglecting/abandoning a child to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.
They had denied all the charges
Paramedics were called to the family home in Stone on 27 February 2020.
They then called police with reports that a five-month-old baby girl was in cardiac arrest.
Ava Mae died in hospital a few days later.
Grocott and Collard could not explain what had happened and following initial enquiries were arrested on 25 March 2020.
A post mortem found multiple fractures to the baby's ribs, collar bone and femur. She had also suffered severe trauma to the side of her head, causing injury to her ear.
DC Emily Hanlon, of the force’s Child Protection and Exploitation Team, said:
“This was a truly tragic case in which a five-month-old died as a result of the actions of two people who should have protected her.
“I would like to thank all of those involved in securing justice for the child.
“Our thoughts continue to remain with everyone affected by her death.”
Joshua Collard was handed an 11 year sentence, and Rebecca Grocott a term of 8 years. They're both expected to serve half of the sentences given and then be placed on licence.