Woman who left baby brain damaged and blind spared jail

A woman who left a baby brain damaged then moaned about missing a haircut appointment has been spared jail.

Shannon Soutter walked free after a judge said it “neither appropriate or necessary” to lock her up.

The 23 year-old attacked the tiny girl over a two month period while apparently looking after her at a house in Arbroath, Angus.

The child had brain injuries in April 2018 as well as fractures to her skull, ribs and ankle.

She may also have permanent blindness with medics describing her prognosis as “poor”.

Soutter was today sentenced having earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life.

Lord Turnbull said Soutter had been struggling with a “history of depression” and other personal issues at the time.

The judge went on: “She punishes herself daily and will continue to do so.

“I think there is little the court can do by way of punishment that is greater than what she has imposed on herself.

“In light of factors and the clearly vouched mental health difficulties, I am satisfied the public duty does not require me to pass a sentence which would incarcerate Miss Soutter.

“The circumstances are so unusual that a degree of understanding, and some mercy, leads to the conclusion it is neither appropriate or necessary to impose a custodial sentence.”

Soutter sobbed as she was instead ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work as part of a three-year community payback order.

This also involves her having no unsupervised contact with underage children and to undergo treatment for her mental health issues.

The baby's dad - praised by the judge for the care of his sick daughter - was in court to see Soutter sentenced.

The child was as young as six months when the assaults began.

The charge spanned between February and April 2018.

Soutter, of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, once claimed during that time the baby “hates me”.

Weeks later, she told a friend the child was “doing her head in”.

It was on April 28 last year, Soutter phoned the girl's dad asking him to call 999.

She said the child was not breathing properly.

When the man arrived, he found his daughter was “silent, limp and lifeless”.

Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC told the High Court in Glasgow: ”She was gasping for breath breathing around four times a minute.”

Soutter claimed she had gone for a bath after putting the child in her cot.

She then heard the baby “gasping” and went to find her “unresponsive”.

The sick child was initially treated at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The girl's anxious dad went with his daughter in the ambulance.

Soutter meantime went with a woman in a car. She was described as “acting normally”.

Miss Edwards said: “She then discussed she had a hairdressing appointment on the Monday (two days later).

“She was annoyed that she might miss the appointment.”

Medics found the child was very ill also having rib fractures of “differing ages”.

Miss Edwards: “Blood samples confirmed that there were no medical explanation that would account for her presentation and injuries.”

A probe was launched by both police and social workers.

Soutter initially claimed she had been “rocking” the child and that she “may” have bumped her head off a table.

The court was told some of the injuries had resulted from “shaking” of the child.

The rib fractures had been caused by “gripping” of the child.

The leg fracture was meantime was called a “rotational-injury”.

Miss Edwards said the brain injury was described as “devastating” by medics.

The prosecutor: “Her prognosis is very poor and she will have lifelong disability.”

Soutter initially claimed she had “no idea” how the brain and rib injuries occurred.

It also emerged she had made an internet search asking “what happens” if a baby is hit.

But, she insisted this was to do with “back slaps” when the child had not been breathing.

Soutter also told a police doctor that “her head was all over the place” and that she had suffered panic attacks.

Ronnie Renucci QC, defending, had today urged Lord Turnbull not to jail Soutter.

He said Soutter had “found it difficult to admit to herself, nevermind others” of her apparent struggles at the time.

Sentencing, Lord Turnbull said the child's dad had written a moving victim impact statement of how they are coping.

The judge said: “Nothing can be done in this court to alleviate the stress and upset to a father who has the difficult responsibility of providing care for her.

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