CONNOR BROWN FROM BLANTYRE FACES JAIL AFTER BRUTAL ATTACK ON 18-MONTH-OLD GIRL

In January 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, involving a young man named Connor Brown, aged 22, who inflicted severe injuries on an 18-month-old girl. The child, whose identity remains protected by legal restrictions, was subjected to a violent assault that resulted in both of her arms being broken. The incident occurred in the comfort of her family’s home, where Brown was holding the girl on his lap at the time.

According to reports, the girl’s crying and fussing appeared to irritate Brown. Witnesses, including her mother, recounted that after attempting to soothe her, Brown became increasingly frustrated. In a moment of apparent anger, he took the child by both arms and forcibly pulled them behind her back. The force used was so intense that it caused her humerus bones to fracture, with the injuries described as spiral fractures, indicative of twisting trauma.

The girl’s mother was present during the assault and vividly recalls hearing the distinct cracking sound as her daughter’s arms broke. She watched helplessly as her child became extremely distressed. The mother immediately sought medical attention, and the family took the girl to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride. Initially, she told medical staff that her daughter had fallen behind a television set, attempting to explain the injuries. However, hospital staff grew suspicious of her account after examining the child.

Medical professionals noted that the nature of the fractures was inconsistent with accidental injury. The spiral fractures suggested a twisting force applied to the arms, which is highly unlikely to occur through mere falls or accidental mishaps. Confronted with these findings, the mother was later questioned by police and medical personnel, ultimately admitting that Connor Brown was responsible for the injuries.

Brown’s initial story to police was that he was not present at the scene when the injuries occurred. He later claimed that he had experienced a seizure or fit, and upon regaining consciousness, he found the child injured. Despite his explanations, investigators and prosecutors rejected his account, emphasizing the evidence pointing to deliberate harm.

The child has since made a full recovery, although her arms were placed in plaster casts for several weeks to facilitate healing. Brown, who hails from Larkhall, Lanarkshire, appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court to face charges of assault causing severe injury. In September 2018, he pleaded guilty to the assault, which resulted in the child’s serious injuries.

Prosecutors have challenged Brown’s claims that his medical condition caused the injuries, and a further hearing has been scheduled to determine the case’s outcome. Sheriff Thomas Millar is set to review the evidence and make a ruling after a mitigation proof hearing. During the proceedings, Depute Fiscal Neil Thomson detailed the events, stating that on the day of the incident, Brown was in the company of the child’s mother and the child herself at their residence.

Thomson explained that the mother observed Brown holding the crying child in his lap, attempting to comfort her. However, Brown’s irritation grew, and he reportedly took the child by both arms and pulled them behind her back, causing the cracking sound and the child’s distress. The mother then sought medical advice, and the subsequent examination revealed the injuries that could only have been caused by deliberate twisting and force.

The court was told that the injuries were highly unlikely to have been accidental, given their nature and the manner in which they were inflicted. Brown’s initial explanation of a seizure was dismissed by the prosecution, who emphasized the severity of the assault and the likelihood of custodial sentencing if he is found guilty. The case has been adjourned until next month, with Brown’s bail maintained, pending further evidence and legal proceedings.