Stepdad guilty of murdering toddler

A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner's 22-month-old son.

Charlie Roberts died in hospital a day after being fatally shaken at his home in Darlington in January.

Christopher Stockton, 38, had denied murder but was found guilty of that and physically abusing Charlie in the months before his death.

Charlie's mother, Paula Roberts, 41, had previously admitted child neglect by failing to get him medical attention for previous injuries. Both will be sentenced at a future date.

In a statement following the verdict, Charlie's father Barry Greenwell said Charlie was a "much-loved son and grandson" who had been "taken away needlessly" and left a void that could never be filled.

Stockton and Roberts began a relationship in early 2023 and he moved into her home in Frosterley Drive seven days before Charlie was fatally injured, Teesside Crown Court had heard.

Roberts had wanted Charlie to call Stockton "daddy" and left her son in the man's sole care on the morning of 12 January while she went to an optician's appointment.

Just 18 minutes after Roberts left, Stockton called 999 to say Charlie was "floppy" and not breathing.

Prosecutors said he was eerily calm on the call, to the extent a Great North Air Ambulance medic thought the call was a hoax, and Stockton complained of being too unwell with pneumonia to perform full CPR on the unconscious child.

He claimed Charlie had been choking on a biscuit but medical staff were immediately suspicious and scans at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary revealed Charlie had catastrophic bleeding in his brain.

He died the following day and pathologists concluded he had been deliberately violently shaken or had his head struck with severe force.

Stockton had denied murdering Charlie and said he did not know how he had been injured, with his legal team arguing Roberts may have inflicted the fatal wounds before she went out.

But doctors said the injuries were so severe Charlie would have collapsed within moments of them being inflicted, meaning they must have been caused while Stockton was alone with the boy.

Stockton was also found guilty of physically abusing Charlie on previous occasions and Roberts admitted not getting her son medical attention after he had been hurt in the weeks before his death.

Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC said she was prepared to "overlook" her boyfriend's actions to "keep him in her life", while Stockton had "little patience" for Charlie.

Roberts had suspected Stockton may be harming Charlie so hid a camera in the boy's bedroom, but took no further action.

Jurors spent four and a half hours deliberating before reaching guilty verdicts for Stockton.

He gave no visible reaction when the verdicts were announced.

Judge Mr Justice Goss told Stockton he would face a life sentence, but a minimum term would have to be set which he would have to serve before being eligible for consideration of release on parole.

That would happen on a date in the new year, the judge added.

He also thanked jurors for their work on the "upsetting" and "distressing" case.

Speaking after the verdicts were delivered, Dominic Tate of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Charlie had a "pattern of unexplained injuries" which could "only have been inflicted by another person" and for which Roberts failed to get medical help.

He said on 12 January, Stockton "lost his temper" and attacked Charlie "with sufficient violence to cause catastrophic head injuries".

Det Supt Chris Barker, of Durham Constabulary, said Stockton had been "entrusted" with looking after Charlie, adding: "It was his responsibility to keep Charlie safe.

"He didn't do that.

"He is the only person who knows exactly what happened that morning but what we do know is his actions resulted in this little boy's death.

"Charlie had everything to live for, but his life was cruelly cut short."

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