A MAN convicted of a series of violent and sexual offences against a baby aged no more than 10 weeks has been back before Swansea Crown Court today (Friday, January 16) for sentence, as the prosecution set out the “horrific” impact on the child and his family.

Christopher Phillips was found guilty after a contested trial in which he denied responsibility and blamed others, including the baby’s father and the child’s mother, the court heard.

Opening the sentencing hearing, the prosecution said the jury convicted Phillips of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, including multiple fractured ribs and a bleed on the brain. He was also convicted of two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13, as well as an assault occasioning actual bodily harm linked to bruising to the child’s testicle.

The most serious sexual count related to an incident on January 23 to 24, 2021, which the prosecutor said caused a deep laceration described by doctors as a catastrophic injury. The court was told the baby required morphine, which expert evidence suggested was “very, very rare” for a child of that age.

The earlier penetration count involved an injury the prosecution said was already healing.

The prosecutor told the judge that Phillips made no admissions in police interviews and continued to deny wrongdoing during the trial, but now accepts he was responsible for the injuries. However, the prosecution urged the court to take a “critical eye” to his account, saying he still did not explain the mechanism of what happened and had blamed other people for a prolonged period.

Victim personal statements were then placed before the court on behalf of the child, who is too young to speak for himself.

The child’s grandmother described the case as the kind of story “you may hear on the news” but said being directly involved “changes you forever.” She said the baby’s injuries could not be erased by any prison sentence and told the court the family lost almost a year with him while he was placed with foster carers during family court proceedings.

The statement said the child was fearful around men after the injuries and that the impact had been “devastating” for the wider family. The grandmother also described the trauma of the baby’s father being arrested at the outset of the investigation and treated as a suspect.

A statement from the baby’s father, read out in court at his request, described the pain of learning about the injuries after being arrested on January 24, 2021. He said he was “shattered” and had to face police questioning while fearing his son might not survive.

He told the court the baby was flown by air ambulance for surgery and that surgeons had considered fitting a colostomy bag due to the severity of the injury, but were ultimately able to repair it. He said the baby later showed distress when being changed on raised changing tables and became anxious during potty training, needing comfort.

The father said his son is now five and that the family cannot yet know the long-term psychological impact. He said the child has been referred for assessment as the family has noticed difficulties with frustration, compulsions, and anxiety-driven behaviours.

He also described the lasting effect on him, saying he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and continues to receive support. He said one of the hardest issues he faces is deciding what to tell his son in future about what happened and when.

The court was also told Phillips had previous cautions for burglary and for importing a psychoactive substance, as well as a later conviction for importation of a psychoactive substance.

In submissions on sentence, the prosecution said the most serious offences carry a maximum of life imprisonment, and invited the court to treat the case as at “the upper end” of harm and culpability given the age and vulnerability of the baby, the severity of the injuries, and the period over which the offending occurred.

Sentencing is expected to follow after the court has heard from the defence and considered reports and legal submissions.

THE CASE CONTINUES