Dad Caged For Beating 14-Month Old Son To Death

A father, who beat his 14 month-old son to death when left to care for the baby for less than half an hour, has been jailed for nine years.

Nathan Allen, 27, of Erith Crescent, Romford, Essex repeatedly punched defenceless Fletcher, inflicting deadly injuries to his abdomen.

The boy suffered two broken ribs, internal bleeding, kidney trauma and multiple bruising to his torso, neck and face.

Nathan pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Fletcher who died at nearby Queens Hospital on January 6.

An Old Bailey jury found him not guilty of murder.

A post-mortem examination took place on January 8 at Great Ormond Street Hospital and gave the cause of death as blunt trauma injury to the abdomen.



The murder investigation was led by detectives from the Major Investigation Team at the Child Abuse Investigation Command.



Allen claimed he had left Fletcher for a moment in the bath and when he returned he was lying face down. 



However, the post-mortem examination showed no sign he had drowned or of any water in his airways and his injuries were most likely caused by a punch or kick.



Detective Inspector Colin Welsh said: “I strongly believe that Nathan Allen first seriously assaulted his son in the weeks leading up to this incident, when Fletcher suffered two broken ribs.



"On 6 January 2011, a second incident took place when Fletcher was in the sole care of his father for less than half an hour and the fatal injuries were inflicted.

“A vicious attack took place during which this defenceless 14-month-old baby suffered another fractured rib, trauma to both kidneys, internal bleeding and numerous bruises to his body, head and face, including what can only be described as a sadistic bite to Fletcher's face.

“He then failed to call an ambulance and get Fletcher the immediate medical help he so desperately needed.



“Allen then cynically invented a story to try to cover up what he had done, suggesting that Fletcher had fallen and drowned in the bath.

“He maintained this story until two days before he was due to stand trial.

“Faced with overwhelming evidence against him, at the last moment Allen admitted to assaulting Fletcher. I am pleased that today's sentence reflects the gravity of his actions.”