CHARLIE BOYLE FROM PAISLEY INJURES 12-WEEK-OLD BABY IN NEILSTON NEAR GLASGOW

In August 2019, a disturbing incident occurred involving Charlie Boyle, a 23-year-old man from Paisley, who was involved in a reckless act that resulted in severe injuries to a 12-week-old infant. The incident took place at a residence in Neilston, a town near Glasgow, where Boyle was babysitting the young child. According to court proceedings, Boyle was observed tossing the baby into the air three times during the course of babysitting. The act, which was intended as playful, had catastrophic consequences for the infant.

Shortly after the last toss, the baby became floppy and unresponsive, prompting immediate concern. The child's condition was dire enough that he was rushed to hospital, where medical professionals identified bleeding near the brain, in the eyes, and seizures indicative of significant trauma. The medical team at Glasgow's hospital described the injuries as life-threatening, emphasizing that without urgent medical intervention, the child's life could have been lost. The child was subsequently admitted to intensive care, where he remained under close observation. Despite the severity of his injuries, the child, now two years old, has been meeting all developmental milestones, a fact that was acknowledged by the presiding judge.

During the trial, it was revealed that Boyle had previously been warned by the child's mother about the dangers of throwing the baby into the air. Despite this warning, Boyle insisted that his actions were merely playful and that the child was laughing at the time. He pleaded guilty to charges of culpably and recklessly throwing the child, which resulted in severe injury and posed a danger to his life. The incident was initially considered as attempted murder, but prosecutors accepted Boyle's plea to a reduced charge during the proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lord Clark addressed Boyle directly, stating, “It should have been obvious to anyone this could cause the baby’s head to flop forward or backward causing injury.” The court was informed that Boyle did not initially disclose what had happened when the child was taken to hospital. Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC noted that Boyle told police he was frightened of being blamed and potentially going to jail. The judge highlighted the fortunate outcome, noting that the child, who is now two years old, is progressing well in his development. A medical expert confirmed that the injuries sustained would have required significant trauma, and without prompt medical treatment, the child's life could have been in grave danger.

In a related account from June 2019, Boyle faced similar allegations for his reckless behavior involving the same child. On that occasion, he was caring for the infant at his home in Neilston when he repeatedly threw the baby into the air. Boyle claimed he was just playing and that the child was “laughing,” but the child's condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalization. The child was found unresponsive and floppy, with bleeding near the brain, in the eyes, and seizures. Boyle was initially charged with attempted murder but later admitted to the reduced charge of culpable and reckless conduct. His bail was continued pending sentencing, which was scheduled for the following month.

It was revealed that the child's mother had previously warned Boyle not to throw the baby into the air, but he ignored her advice. On the day of the incident, Boyle was seen calling his mother, distressed and crying, stating that the boy “was not moving.” The child was rushed to intensive care, where doctors confirmed the injuries were life-threatening. A specialist neurology clinic continued to monitor the child's recovery up until December of that year. Boyle told police he had been playing with the child while the mother was out, describing how he threw the baby into the air before catching him, claiming the child was enjoying it and laughing. He admitted to doing this three times before the child started crying and became unresponsive. Boyle expressed fear of admitting the truth to hospital staff, fearing he would “get blamed and get the jail.”

Judge Lord Clark deferred sentencing to allow for further reports, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and the importance of assessing Boyle's circumstances before final judgment.