Dad jailed for killing baby
Thursday, 1st November 2001.
A HAVERHILL father who shook his 35-day-old baby daughter and threw her on a sofa has been jailed for five years for her manslaughter.
Richard Plumridge, of Heron House, High Street, admitted killing his daughter, Sarah Ketteridge, who died on December 12 last year.
Norwich Crown Court heard a month after Sarah's birth the baby's mother, Alice Ketteridge, discovered Plumridge shaking the child after losing his temper.
Plumridge, 22, went to the doctors and was prescribed anti-depressants but there was a further incident involving his daughter on December 5.
The following day, the family, including Miss Ketteridge's 21-month-old son, were in a cafe when Sarah became distressed and Plumridge took her home.
About 15 minutes later he came running back and told Miss Ketteridge the baby had stopped breathing. Sarah was taken to hospital where she died a week later. Doctors discovered Sarah had suffered a fracture to the skull and bleeding on the brain.
She had bloodshot eyes and damage to her retinas due to severe shaking and had a number of bruises and bite marks.
Elizabeth Marsh QC, prosecuting, said: "The conclusion was she had died from head injuries. They were impact injuries to the head due to shaking and fractures due to impact with a firm object and must have occurred when the baby's head hit the arm of the sofa in the lounge where changing and feeding took place."
Graham Parkins QC, mitigating, said Plumridge admitted shaking the baby. "He was feeling irritable with two small children and rowing with his partner. In a fatal few seconds he lost control with awful consequences.
"He is ashamed of what he did. He says he has done wrong and deserves to be punished."
Sentencing him, Mr Justice Moses said: "I accept you are genuinely remorseful but you took the life of a little 35-day-old girl."
Richard Plumridge, of Heron House, High Street, admitted killing his daughter, Sarah Ketteridge, who died on December 12 last year.
Norwich Crown Court heard a month after Sarah's birth the baby's mother, Alice Ketteridge, discovered Plumridge shaking the child after losing his temper.
Plumridge, 22, went to the doctors and was prescribed anti-depressants but there was a further incident involving his daughter on December 5.
The following day, the family, including Miss Ketteridge's 21-month-old son, were in a cafe when Sarah became distressed and Plumridge took her home.
About 15 minutes later he came running back and told Miss Ketteridge the baby had stopped breathing. Sarah was taken to hospital where she died a week later. Doctors discovered Sarah had suffered a fracture to the skull and bleeding on the brain.
She had bloodshot eyes and damage to her retinas due to severe shaking and had a number of bruises and bite marks.
Elizabeth Marsh QC, prosecuting, said: "The conclusion was she had died from head injuries. They were impact injuries to the head due to shaking and fractures due to impact with a firm object and must have occurred when the baby's head hit the arm of the sofa in the lounge where changing and feeding took place."
Graham Parkins QC, mitigating, said Plumridge admitted shaking the baby. "He was feeling irritable with two small children and rowing with his partner. In a fatal few seconds he lost control with awful consequences.
"He is ashamed of what he did. He says he has done wrong and deserves to be punished."
Sentencing him, Mr Justice Moses said: "I accept you are genuinely remorseful but you took the life of a little 35-day-old girl."
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