CHARLOTTE JACKSON SHAKING BABY IN STOCKPORT LEADS TO DEATH AND INDEFINITE HOSPITAL ORDER

In March 2017, a tragic case unfolded involving Charlotte Jackson, a 28-year-old woman from Stockport, who was held accountable for the devastating injuries inflicted upon her infant daughter, Cassie Walker. The case drew significant attention as it revealed the brutal circumstances that led to Cassie’s death five years later, following a series of severe assaults that left her permanently disabled.

Charlotte Jackson, previously known by her maiden name Charlotte Wild, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Her criminal history includes serving two and a half years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty. However, the legal proceedings intensified after the tragic death of Cassie in 2012, prompting authorities to revisit the case and bring new charges against Jackson.

The prosecution, led by Joanna Rodikis, presented evidence at Manchester Crown Court indicating that Cassie had been subjected to physical abuse as early as June 2007. The injuries came to light after Jackson took her daughter to a doctor, claiming Cassie was having difficulty feeding. Medical professionals, upon examination, found Cassie suffering from breathing issues and an elevated heart rate, which prompted urgent hospital admission.

Further investigations revealed that Cassie had sustained a bleed on the brain, along with fractures to her arms, legs, and ribs, as well as severe brain damage. The injuries were determined to be non-accidental and had occurred during separate incidents earlier that week. These findings pointed to a pattern of repeated abuse, which ultimately resulted in her lifelong disabilities, including blindness, cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, and spinal curvature.

Jackson was taken into custody and admitted to shaking her daughter on three separate occasions. During police interviews, she expressed remorse, acknowledging that she knew her actions were wrong and that she felt ‘bad about it.’ The court heard that these assaults were impulsive reactions to Cassie crying, suggesting a pattern of reactive violence rather than premeditated abuse.

Following her initial hospital treatment, Cassie was placed in foster care in July 2007. Despite this, her health continued to decline, and she experienced ongoing feeding problems. Over the next year, she was repeatedly hospitalized, undergoing emergency surgeries and treatments. In June 2012, Cassie was readmitted after falling ill due to complications from a procedure to insert a feeding tube. Unfortunately, her condition worsened due to further complications, including severe damage to her bowel, which ultimately led to her death.

Prosecutor Joanna Rodikis emphasized the direct link between the initial assaults and Cassie’s death, stating, “Mrs Jackson caused Cassie multiple serious injuries from which Cassie subsequently died, and was deemed responsible for her subsequent death. Had Cassie not been seriously assaulted, she would not have died in the manner she did in 2012.”

Following the inquest into Cassie’s death, authorities re-arrested Jackson, citing evidence that connected her earlier abuse to the fatal outcome. The case underscores the tragic consequences of child abuse and highlights the importance of vigilant intervention in cases of suspected harm to children in Stockport and beyond.