ANDREW COOPER SHAKES BABY DAUGHTER IN HARTLEPOOL CAUSING BRAIN INJURY AND WATCHES PORN DURING EMERGENCY TREATMENT
In June 2018, a distressing case emerged from Hartlepool involving a father, Andrew Cooper, who was convicted of inflicting severe harm on his 11-week-old daughter.The incident revealed a tragic combination of parental neglect, substance abuse, and violence that has left the young child with potentially lifelong injuries.
According to court reports, Cooper, who was known to be battling drug addiction at the time, caused a significant brain injury to his infant daughter by shaking her violently.
The consequences of this assault are still uncertain, with medical professionals indicating that the long-term effects may be profound and enduring.
The court heard that during the child's treatment at North Tees Hospital and subsequently at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, Cooper was observed engaging in disturbing behavior, including watching pornography while emergency doctors attended to his injured daughter.
The incident unfolded when the child's mother left the home for the day, taking her sister with her, leaving Cooper in sole care of the infant.
Prosecutor Sean Dodds explained that Cooper's ongoing drug use had been causing tension in their relationship.
When the mother returned, she found Cooper sitting on the sofa with their daughter beside him.
He deliberately moved his leg in a way that prevented her from sitting down, raising immediate concerns.
Later that day, the mother noticed her daughter had been sleeping for over four hours, which was unusual for such a young baby.
She attempted to feed her with a bottle of milk, but the infant soon showed signs of distress, including twitching and facial fits.
Alarmed, the mother administered Calpol and contacted her own mother for advice.
The advice was to call emergency services if the child's condition did not improve.
Subsequently, the mother dialed 999, and paramedics responded swiftly, transporting the baby to North Tees Hospital and then transferring her to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Medical examinations revealed no external injuries but identified a significant internal brain injury and an internal eye injury.
The child was found to have bleeding in the skull and retinal hemorrhages in both eyes, injuries consistent with being shaken violently.
Investigations into the incident uncovered that Cooper was searching for pornography at his home during the time his daughter was being treated in hospital.
When questioned, he claimed to have no memory of how his daughter sustained her injuries, raising serious questions about his involvement and state of mind during the incident.
Andrew Cooper, aged 25 and residing on Ivy Grove in Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding on February 20 of the previous year.
His actions prompted a stern response from the court, with Judge Simon Bourne-Arton sentencing him to 32 months in prison.
The judge condemned Cooper for abusing the trust placed in him as a parent, emphasizing that his actions had caused serious harm to his child.
The court highlighted that Cooper's addiction to cannabis, which he had no right to consume while responsible for a young child, contributed to his loss of control and subsequent violence.
Judge Bourne-Arton remarked that although the child is now showing signs of recovery, the injuries inflicted could have long-lasting consequences.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact parental substance abuse and violence can have on the most vulnerable members of society.
