BANBURY MAN BEN O’DONOVAN SENTENCED FOR INJURING FOUR-MONTH-OLD BABY IN OXFORD

In May 2014, a man from Banbury named Ben O’Donovan was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court after causing extensive injuries to a four-month-old baby. O’Donovan, 27, of Park Road, Banbury, was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence following his admission to charges of actual bodily harm and assault by beating on January 13th of that year.

Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne explained how, on September 5, 2013, a care worker noticed the baby had numerous bruises. During police interviews, O’Donovan admitted to striking the child on the side of the head when it was crying, stating he was ‘stressed’ and couldn’t get the help he needed to care for the baby. He also confessed to bruising the child earlier on September 4 and described taking the baby into a hospital car park, attempting to soothe it by gripping it to his chest, but noted he probably squeezed ‘a bit too tightly.’

Consultant pathologist Dr. Julie Johnson examined the baby on September 5 and found bruising on the upper lip, jaw, upper arms, left shoulder, and both thighs. She stated that the bruises were consistent with being gripped ‘very tightly.’

Defence lawyer Terence Woods presented a psychological report indicating that O’Donovan’s intellectual level was comparable to that of a child aged six to eight, and that he was ‘completely unable to cope’ with stressful situations.

Judge Eccles, delivering the sentence, remarked, “The defendant had neither the emotional, physical, or psychological resources to cope with the situation in which he found himself.” In addition to the suspended incarceration, O’Donovan was ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid work.