“Sadistic” Craig Neill, 26, and Amy Cave, 21, left a child with a brain injury as well as extensive bruising, burns and broken wrists.
A “sadistic” couple who left a child with a brain injury have been jailed for more than 20 years. Craig Neill, 26, and Amy Cave, 21, were convicted after the child was found horrifically painful injuries which likely the result of “sadistic behaviour and significant force”.
In May, emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive child in a house in the Branksome area of Darlington. The child was take to hospital where doctors confirmed that they had a fractured skull and a significant brain injury which requiring a section of skull to be temporarily removed to ease the swelling.
Medical staff also found that the child had extensive bruising across their body, including the head and neck, as well as burns to the hand, a fractured jaw and both their wrists were broken in three places, reports Teesside Live.
Cave and her new partner, Neill, were arrested in connection with the incident but denied being responsible for the child’s injuries. Medical experts described the injuries as being caused by “blunt force” and that they were highly likely to have been inflicted deliberately.
The couple, both of Darlington, were charged jointly with causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. Both pleaded not guilty but were found guilty following a trial at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough.
On Wednesday, December 16, Cave was jailed for 10 years and Neill was sentenced to a 14 year extended prison sentence, 13 years of which will be custodial.
The court heard that the majority of the physical injuries subjected by the child were inflicted by Neill. Prosecutor, Jolyon Perks said the child sustained “life-threatening injuries” and burns which would have been “extremely painful”. He told the court that the child suffered a traumatic brain injury.
He added that some of the injuries, such as the burns, showed signs of “sadistic behaviour”, as well as “significant force”.
The court heard Cave had no previous convictions. However, Neill had eight previous convictions for 14 offences, including racially aggravated harassment, robbery involving a knife, and stalking of a previous partner.
Peter Wilcock KC, defending Neill, said he “thoroughly maintains his innocence” and has mental health issues. He said: “He had adverse childhood experiences…plainly Mr Neill’s account was not accepted by the jury.”
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending Cave, said she failed to acknowledge she was in a “toxic relationship”. He added: “This will be her first first experience of custody, and we anticipate, her last.”
Judge Jonathan Carroll said Neill behaved aggressively during the trial and said there was “no evidence of remorse” on his part. He said he appeared to be “a man who was barely in control of himself and his temper” and that he is a dangerous offender.
The judge said Cave had also showed some aggression towards Neill during the trial and that neither had given truthful accounts of what happened to the child.
