- Tony Bartlett, 39, from Axminster, Devon , has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his four-week-old son, Atticus.
- Atticus died in hospital on 23 July 2022, a week after collapsing at his family home in Chard, Somerset, due to severe brain and spinal cord injuries caused by being violently shaken.
- The judge stated that Bartlett, who was "very drunk" after consuming 8.5 pints of lager, became enraged when Atticus struggled to take a bottle, leading him to violently shake the baby.
- Atticus's mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, described the profound and lasting trauma of her son's death, expressing severe anxiety and the pain of never seeing him reach milestones.
- Detective sergeant Sarah Bowden highlighted that medical evidence proved Bartlett was solely responsible for the "cruel act" and praised the family's dignity throughout the investigation and trial.
IN FULL
Father who murdered four-week-old son in ‘fit of anger’ jailed for life
