David Dearlove found guilty of murder of toddler in Stockton in 1968

71-year-old David Dearlove has been jailed for at least 13 years for the murder of his 19-month-old stepson Paul Booth, in Stockton, in 1968.

It took the jury of 10 women and 2 men four days of deliberation to return the guilty verdict at Teesside Crown Court - they also found Dearlove guilty of three charges of child cruelty.

The case had remained closed for five decades until 2015, when the toddler's brother, Peter, gave an interview to police after seeing a picture of David Dearlove holding his younger brother on Facebook.

His murderous attack had been witnessed by Paul's brother, Peter, who was three years old at the time, after he crept downstairs at the family home in Haverton Hill, Stockton, Teesside, to get a drink.

Mr Booth had told police what happened after piecing together childhood memories, but no action was taken.

A police inquiry was launched at the time after bruises and burns were found on the boy, but Dearlove was never prosecuted.

That changed in 2015 when, incensed by seeing a black-and-white photo of Dearlove with Paul on his knee on Facebook, Mr Booth went to the police again with the allegation that his brother was murdered, and an investigation was launched

It led to the former ICI-worker being arrested at home in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and being questioned in Middlesbrough.

Richard Wright QC, prosecuting said aggravating factors were the vulnerability of the victim, the infliction of physical suffering and the fact the stepfather was in a position of trust.

Tim Roberts QC, defending, said the judge should sentence on the basis there was no intention to kill.

He said: We do submit that 50 years of blameless character since 1968 is a matter to which the court can, in these particular circumstances, attach considerable weight.''

Mr Justice thanked the jury for their hard work and the quality of some of the questions they asked during the trial.

Paul died in hospital on the same night Peter witnessed him being attacked.

He never regained consciousness after suffering a fractured skull and died within four hours.

Dearlove was 21 when he moved in with Carol Booth, now deceased, and her three children, and told the jury he liked them but did not love them.

She went on have a baby son by him, born three months after Paul died.

The couple split in 1970 and he never saw Peter again until Mr Booth faced him in court and told the jury what he saw.

Mr Booth and his sister Stephanie also told the jury Dearlove had been physically abusive towards them when they were small children.

Paul had a series of injuries of different ages on his body when he died.

A month before, concerns were raised by his nursery about bruises on his body and police and childcare specialists made inquiries but did not take action against the couple.

At the time, Dearlove told the authorities those injuries were caused by Paul pulling a motorbike over in the back yard.

On the night Dearlove killed Paul, he was alone in the room with the child.

He claimed the toddler had collapsed and went with Mrs Booth in the ambulance to the hospital, returning home some time later while the toddler remained critically ill.

He heard in a phone call that Paul was dead. An hour and a quarter after hearing the news, he told the jury, he went to bed.

Dearlove showed little emotion when he was cross-examined by Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, about that night.

Mr Wright asked: The child you say you cared about and liked, a baby, had died in your home that night ... it must have been terrible.''

Dearlove said: I cannot remember what my feelings were.''

Mr Wright said: Think back, this happy little baby you had been tossing up and down by the fire earlier in the evening, you found him with a fatal injury, and the woman you loved - Carol - had just lost her son. Was that a bit upsetting?''

Dearlove replied: It was probably upsetting, yes, but I cannot remember.''

Dearlove, who had no previous convictions, moved to London after his split with Mrs Booth, and started a new life.

He married, had two daughters and is now a grandfather.

Mr Justice Males said Peter Booth had been haunted'' by his childhood memories.

He said Stephanie had tried to bury the memories but had been forced to relive them when she gave evidence in court.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “This awful crime robbed a defenceless child of his life almost 50 years ago – and Dearlove probably though he’d long got away with his actions.

“As a stepfather he had a duty to protect Paul Booth and he abused the trust placed in him in the most horrific way.

“This is a tragic case which will have had a devastating effect on a whole family, some of whom are not here to see justice finally served.”

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000