Two Individuals Convicted After Baby Suffers Profound Disabilities in “Monstrous Act”

A baby girl was rendered profoundly disabled by a man and a woman, in an incident a judge characterized as a “monstrous act”. Tom Kember, 27, of Taunton, received a guilty verdict for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Katherine Reilly, 25, also residing in Taunton, was found guilty of child cruelty. Both individuals had pleaded not guilty to the accusations concerning a premature infant. However, they were unanimously convicted following a five-week trial held at Bristol Crown Court. Their sentencing is scheduled for January 24. Detective Chief Inspector Roger Doxsey, representing Avon and Somerset Police, commented: “It is tragic to reflect that having been born at 31 weeks she was readmitted to hospital with these terrible injuries before her due date.” A warning is issued that this article details physical abuse, which some readers may find distressing. The infant was born prematurely in 2019. Merely 10 days after her hospital discharge, on January 14, 2020, emergency services were summoned to a Taunton residence where the baby was discovered unresponsive. Paramedics observed bruising on the baby’s temples and communicated their apprehensions to personnel at Musgrove Park hospital. Medical experts providing testimony to the court determined that the infant’s injuries were consistent with those typically observed in high-speed traffic accidents or falls from a single-story height, ruling out a domestic accident as the cause. The jury was informed that on January 12, 2020, Kember conducted online searches for phrases such as “what happend aif u (sic) hit a baby’s face” and “can a baby be sick if it gets hit”. The following day, at 22:45, Kember performed additional online searches, including “if baby hits its head does the baby sleep a lot”, while present at a fast-food establishment with Reilly and the infant. Kember did not contact 111 until 01:20 on January 14. Later that day, at 6:10, Kember searched for “can I get dosent for abiseing (sic)… baby”. The prosecution contended that this was a misspelling of “can I get done for abusing… baby”. The court was informed that while the baby was undergoing hospital treatment, Kember and Reilly departed and began gathering her belongings. The traumatic brain injury has resulted in the girl, currently aged four, being non-verbal, experiencing significant visual impairment, suffering multiple daily seizures, and having other complex requirements. Subsequent to the jury’s findings, Judge Julian Lambert characterized the offenses as a “monstrous act”. Det Ch Insp Doxsey stated: “A helpless baby has been abused by adults who were more concerned with avoiding the consequences of their actions than with seeking medical help for her.” He added: “I would like to pay tribute to the medical staff who helped to ensure this little girl’s remarkable survival, and the family who are now providing her with such love and care.” The girl has been adopted by foster parents, who have provided care for her since she was four months old and hospitalized. Kember remains in custody, while Reilly has been granted bail pending their sentencing. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.