Judge hears disturbing allegations as Swansea Crown Court begins examination of case

A TRIAL has opened at Swansea Crown Court into allegations that a Burton man sexually penetrated a seven-week-old baby at an address in Haverfordwest.

Christopher Phillips, 33, of Warrior Reach, Kiln Park, denies 11 charges.

The Crown alleges that between December 20, 2020, and January 25, 2021, Phillips sexually penetrated a baby boy — referred to as Baby C — on two occasions. He is also accused of assaulting the child causing actual bodily harm, and of causing and inflicting grievous bodily harm on four occasions.

The baby’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces two charges of causing or allowing the child to suffer serious physical harm and two charges of child cruelty.

She denies all four charges.

Judge Paul Thomas KC heard evidence this week from the baby’s aunt, who said her sister felt “uncomfortable” whenever Phillips was alone with Baby C.

“She hadn’t known him long and she wasn’t comfortable leaving the baby with him,” the aunt told the court. “But he insisted on my sister leaving the baby alone with him. She was getting a lot of messages from him and felt uncomfortable and under pressure.”

She described occasions where Baby C cried in his sleep “as if someone was snapping his bones” and recalled the baby screaming after a loud banging noise came from a room where Phillips was alone with him.

“When she asked him what caused the banging, he said he’d crashed into something,” she said.

The mother allegedly told her sister she once saw Phillips “bouncing” Baby C in a way that caused the child’s feet to strike his naked penis. “It wasn’t erect, but it wasn’t flaccid either,” the aunt said.

The aunt also recounted concerns over a pot of Sudocrem after Phillips changed the baby’s nappy: “There was a hole inside it that looked as if he’d put his full finger in.”

In further allegations, the aunt said Phillips had used the baby’s Christmas rattle for his own sexual gratification. She said her two-year-old daughter went to pick up the rattle during a visit, but the baby’s mother immediately snatched it away.

“My sister said Phillips believed the rattle looked like a butt plug and had used it as one. I was disgusted,” she told the court.

On another occasion, she said she saw Phillips remove Baby C from a car seat and “bicep curl him like a weight”, despite the baby grizzling.

The Crown also presented professional statements from health visitors, GPs and consultant paediatricians who had seen Baby C in the weeks after his birth in November 2020. During this time the baby was treated for blood from his right ear, constipation and blood in his stools. Medics also noted a swollen left testicle and a small bruise, about 1cm in diameter, on his back. The baby’s mother was unable to explain the bruise.

Health professionals described the mother as “a loving and caring mother”, and said the baby appeared “well and comfortable”.

However, the Crown alleges that on January 25, 2021, Baby C was admitted to hospital with severe injuries said to be consistent with sexual penetration.

Details of those injuries are expected to be outlined to Judge Thomas on Friday.

The trial continues.