A new father killed his five-week-old
son because he felt fatherhood meant 'his life was over', a UK court
heard today. Matthew Wickens, 24, lost his temper when he was left alone
with baby Riley Gardener at the family home in Paignton, Devon.
He shook his son, before slamming his face into a cot - causing him to suffer severe head injuries.
He then repeatedly lied about what he had done - and even tried to cover up the baby's injuries by putting a hat on him. His
lies meant Riley's mother, Gemma Gardener, became a suspect and was
forced to give up their other son, Jayden, for 14 months. Continue...
But now, Wickens has been jailed for six years and five months after admitting manslaughter at Exeter Crown Court.
Simon
Laws QC, prosecuting, said Wickens and Miss Gardener had had an
'on-off' relationship while she was pregnant with Riley, with the former
even having 'a relationship with another woman'.
He said Wickens had initially appeared fine with the idea of having a second son, but then ‘got cold feet and became
ambivalent towards fatherhood’.
'He
seemed unwilling or unable to commit himself wholeheartedly to domestic
life and regarded it as restricting his freedoms,' he said.
But
despite his apparent unwillingness, Wickens eventually moved into Miss
Gardener's flat in a bid to 'prove his commitment to their
relationship’, the court heard.
Mr
Laws said Wickens had felt Riley's birth two years ago meant ‘his life
was over’ - and that he had felt he would ‘just be a father all the
time’ and not going out like his friends.
The
supermarket worker, who had hoped to join the Army, ‘did not like to be
told what I can do and what I cannot do’ by his partner, he said.
But
one day, Wickens agreed to look after Riley as Miss Gardener and their
older son, Jayden, went out shopping, the court heard.
He
bottle-fed and changed the baby, before losing his temper and
assaulting his son - shaking him, before slamming his head face down
into a cot.
Despite Riley's severe head injuries, Wickens, who was 22 at the time, then failed to summon any medical help for his son.
And
when Riley’s mother returned home with Jayden
from shopping, Wickens left her to discover her 'dying or dead son' in
his bed, the court heard. He then repeatedly lied about what had
happened - and even put a hat on Riley to cover up a mark on his
forehead.
At one point, he claimed he had banged
his son's head against the metal arm of a baby swing, before dropping
him on the bedroom floor.
His lies meant that Miss Gardener fell
under the suspicion of the police - and was forced to give up Jayden for
14 months while she battled care proceedings.
However, a post-mortem examination later revealed that Riley had died from shaking and an impact on November 25, 2012.
Paul
Dunkels QC, defending, told the court: '[Wickens] wishes to express his
deep regret and remorse. He lost his temper and shook Riley and slammed
his face down on to his cot.'
He said
Wickens had showed ‘cowardice and selfishness to not say what had
happened straight away’ at the flat in the Winner Street area of
Paignton.
He
added that the defendant may have been tired after getting up in the
night to see to Riley while working long hours, but that was ‘no excuse’
because parents have to carry on.
Sentencing
Wickens, Judge Francis Gilbert QC told him it would remain a 'heavy
burden for the rest of your life that you killed your own child'.
He added that the defendant wished he could turn back the clock and that it had ‘all been a bad dream’.
Culled from UK Daily Mail
