ROMFORD CHILDCARE WORKER ANOUSKA COLEMAN SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ATTACKS ON BABIES IN ROMFORD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Romford, a registered childminder named Anouska Coleman, aged 37, has been sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison after being found guilty of inflicting severe injuries on two infant girls under her care. The incident, which took place in March 2015, involved Coleman calling emergency services after one of the babies, a seven-month-old girl, suddenly became unresponsive.

Paramedics responded promptly and transported the infant to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where medical staff diagnosed her with a bleed on the brain. Subsequent examinations indicated that the injury was most likely caused by trauma, which would have occurred shortly before the emergency call. The precise cause of the injuries remains uncertain, but investigators believe that the damage was probably the result of either a direct impact or violent shaking.

The case did not end there. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team revisited an earlier incident involving Coleman. In October 2014, a nine-month-old girl in her care suffered a leg fracture. Initially, the investigation into this injury concluded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. However, upon review of the case, authorities identified enough grounds to charge Coleman with a second count of grievous bodily harm.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, Coleman was convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. The court sentenced her to seven years in prison for the injury inflicted on the nine-month-old girl. Additionally, she received a nine-year sentence for the assault on the seven-month-old girl, with the sentences to run consecutively, meaning she will serve a total of 16 years behind bars.

This case has brought to light serious concerns about the safety and oversight of children in care within the Romford area, and it underscores the importance of rigorous checks and monitoring in childcare services. The community and authorities alike are calling for increased vigilance to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.