DANIEL COOMBS JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN GILLINGHAM AND SITTINGBOURNE

A man identified as Daniel Coombs, aged 32, has been sentenced to prison after a disturbing incident involving child cruelty that took place in Sittingbourne. Coombs, who previously worked as a lifeguard, was accused of violently shaking an 18-month-old boy he was babysitting, as well as punching the child's legs and hips. The incident was witnessed by his then-partner, who was present at the time in their home in Sittingbourne on August 26, 2023.

Following the assault, the young boy was taken to hospital where he remained for seven days. Medical professionals needed this time to evaluate the physical and psychological impact of the trauma inflicted upon him. The child's family has since spoken out about the profound effect the ordeal has had on their lives, describing it as an extremely difficult experience to process. They expressed their heartbreak over seeing their son, once a lively and inquisitive toddler, become increasingly clingy, fearful, and plagued by night terrors. The parents emphasized that while physical injuries such as bruises and marks eventually heal, the emotional scars left by such trauma are far more enduring and difficult to mend.

In a statement, the family conveyed their strong disapproval of the violence inflicted upon their vulnerable child, stating, “There is no justification for our son being hurt at 18 months old.”

During the court proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Philip Statman addressed the case, highlighting that Coombs was babysitting two children alongside his ex-partner, who was friends with the children's parents. The judge recounted that the ex-partner had witnessed Coombs violently shaking the child on four separate occasions and saw him punch the boy with a clenched fist. She also described the look on Coombs’ face during the incident as being unlike anything she had seen before.

Judge Statman emphasized that Coombs, as an adult fully aware of right and wrong, should have understood the gravity of his actions. He stated, “His parents knew you would be babysitting him together with your then partner,” and further condemned the defendant’s behavior, noting that the violence was both deliberate and severe.

In light of the evidence and the seriousness of the offense, the judge declared that the only appropriate sentence was immediate custody. Coombs was sentenced to 20 months in prison; however, due to his guilty plea, this was reduced to 17 months. He is expected to serve 40% of his sentence and will remain on license until its completion. Additionally, a restraining order was issued, prohibiting Coombs from contacting the victim’s family or visiting their home for a period of ten years.

The victim’s parents expressed their ongoing struggle to recover from the trauma, stating, “We are trying to heal, process and move forward as a family, which is a difficult task to do.” They also voiced their disappointment with the length of the sentence, asserting that it was not sufficient to reflect the severity of the crime. Despite their relief that Coombs is behind bars, they emphasized that no prison sentence could ever undo the harm caused to their son or the ripple effects on their other children and their family as a whole.