Dad Killed Crying Tot Who Disturbed His Computer Game

A young father with a history of child neglect, who killed his 25-day old daughter because she cried as he played a computer game the first time he was left alone with her, was caged for five years today.

Relatives twice tried to alert Kent social services of the potential risk 24 year-old refuse collector Christopher Sellman posed, but information was not passed on.

“This is a tragic case,” Mr. Justice Bean told the defendant (pictured) at Inner London Crown Court. “Your daughter Tiffany was left in your care the first time and within one hour she was effectively dead.

“Playing a computer game you were an annoyed when she cried and slammed her down on a nappy-changing pad.”

Sellman – who was previously cautioned by police for child neglect – was convicted of little Tiffany Sellman Burdge’s manslaughter at the former family home in Greggs Wood Road, Tunbridge Wells.

He was cleared of murdering the tot who died at King’s College Hospital, Camberwell, South-East London on November 1, 2008 from a pre-existing fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

With time on remand and the usual discount Sellman will walk free in eighteen months.

Sellman, of The Hurst, Tonbridge was arrested on suspicion of murder the next day, but throughout the police investigation he could not give an accurate account of what had happened to Tiffany prior to his 999 call.

“You intended her no harm, but you treated her roughly and unlawfully killed her,” Mr. Justice Bean told the defendant.

“I accept she was more than usually vulnerable because of a skull fracture received at birth, but any one month-old baby is tiny, fragile and vulnerable.”

The court heard how Sellman had told a number of people at least five different accounts of what had happened.

Relatives twice sought to alert agencies that Sellman's partner, Pamela Burdge, was pregnant with Tiffany, an executive summary of a serious case review by Kent Safeguarding Children Board said.

On the first occasion they spoke to a health visitor but the information was not passed to Kent children's social services (CSS). The second time relatives raised concern a social worker failed to register it.

Two other children under his care had been taken away from him and a former partner in the past by children's social services following concerns about them.

The report concluded any child born to the couple would be “high risk.”

Sellman’s QC Sarah Forshaw told the court: “All the evidence is that this man was a loving and devoted father to Tiffany. He was delighted at the news they were to have a baby.”

The QC said the death occurred during a “momentary” lack of care. “A single moment in an instant. Not pre-meditated.

“The baby before this incident was well cared for and well loved.

“Nothing will bring back Tiffany in this case. If he could Mr. Sellman would.”

While in custody the defendant has been attacked twice by other inmates. “He has been treated as something of a pariah,” added Miss Forshaw.

Sellman’s ABH conviction was for attacking his older uncle, who had a previously dated the defendant’s then girlfriend, and reportedly tried to rape her.

The neglect caution was for bringing up the same girlfriend’s young son in “untidy and unsanitary” conditions.