GRIMSBY MAN DANIEL RUSHBY SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL BABY ABUSE IN GRIMSBY
In October 2016, a disturbing case of child abuse emerged from Grimsby involving Daniel Rushby, a 23-year-old man whose violent actions towards a three-month-old baby shocked the local community and prompted a serious legal response.Rushby pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the severe mistreatment of the infant over a period of approximately 15 months.
The court heard harrowing details of his brutality, which left relatives in tears as they listened to the account of the abuse.
The Crown Court in Grimsby was told that Rushby, a known cannabis user, inflicted multiple injuries on the vulnerable child, including kicking her while wearing shoes, which caused purple bruising inside her ear.
On one occasion, he also bit her face, adding to the list of injuries.
Further evidence revealed that Rushby had physically assaulted the baby by hitting her arms and legs so forcefully that bruises appeared.
He also admitted to holding his hand over her mouth until she turned blue, a chilling act of suffocation.
The abuse extended beyond the infant, as Rushby also confessed to violent altercations with his partner, including kicking her out of bed, dragging her back, pinning her to the mattress, headbutting her, and biting her forehead.
The horrific nature of the abuse was uncovered when a concerned relative noticed the disturbing marks on the baby and reported their suspicions to social services.
The investigation revealed that the injuries were not accidental; a specialist paediatrician testified that the deep purple bruising inside the child's ear was consistent with being kicked by an adult wearing shoes.
The doctor also noted that such injuries are rarely seen in babies under 12 months old, raising serious concerns about the child's safety.
In addition to the child abuse charges, Rushby admitted to assaulting his ex-partner after going two days without marijuana, highlighting his ongoing struggles with substance dependency.
The court heard that Rushby initially denied the abuse, claiming that the bruises were caused by the baby rolling around or falling off the sofa.
However, relatives grew increasingly worried about the severity of the injuries, especially the bruising inside her ear.
During sentencing, Judge Kate Buckingham described the case as one of serious cruelty over an extended period, emphasizing the deliberate violence inflicted upon a helpless infant.
Rushby was sentenced to a total of four years and three months in prison—three years for five counts of child abuse and an additional 15 months for assaulting his ex-partner.
Prosecutor Claire Holmes highlighted the gravity of the case, stating, “This was serious cruelty over a significant number of months and was deliberate violence against a young baby.” She recounted a distressing conversation with Rushby’s ex-partner, where he admitted, “I hurt her.
I tried to kill her.
Why do I need to tell you why?” He also confessed to biting her face and stopping only when he saw her turn blue.
Rushby’s defence attorney, Andrew Bailey, expressed remorse on his client’s behalf, noting that his confession marked the beginning of court proceedings and that Rushby was overwhelmed by guilt.
Bailey pointed to texts Rushby sent to his mother, in which he expressed feelings of despair, saying, “I just want to disappear.
I can’t stop crying.
I don’t want to feel the pain.
I messed up.
I hurt so much.” Fortunately, the infant made a full recovery and is now meeting developmental milestones, with no permanent damage reported.
Bailey emphasized that the case was among the most severe involving the assault of a baby, describing it as a profound breach of trust with a highly vulnerable victim.
He also noted that Rushby’s addiction to cannabis and underlying depression contributed to his actions, as he used substances to escape his mental state.
Despite the court’s decision, relatives expressed dissatisfaction with the length of the sentence, arguing that it was insufficient given the severity of the abuse.
They pointed out that when a child turns blue, there is only a narrow window—about 30 seconds—before permanent brain damage or death occurs.
They criticized Rushby for walking away after causing such injuries, including kicking the baby out of her walker, and for not calling an ambulance.
The relatives also condemned his lack of remorse, emphasizing that the child was only three months old and that Rushby had admitted to all the allegations.
As part of his sentence, Rushby was also banned from contacting his ex-partner or her family for a period of five years, aiming to protect them from further distress and to prevent any potential interference with ongoing investigations or support efforts.
