ELIZABETH WILKINS SHOCKING PLYMOUTH CRIME: BABY'S SKULL FRACTURED IN HORRIFIC ATTACK
In December 2018, a tragic and disturbing case unfolded in Plymouth involving Elizabeth Wilkins, a 24-year-old mother whose actions led to severe injuries inflicted upon her three-month-old baby.Wilkins was convicted of a series of brutal assaults on her infant, including shaking the child and causing multiple rib fractures, as well as violently banging his head against surfaces, resulting in a fractured skull and brain damage.
These injuries, sustained over a period of time, have left the young child with lasting brain damage, raising concerns about potential developmental issues as he grows older.
The severity of the injuries was compounded by Wilkins' attempt to deflect blame onto her former partner, 30-year-old Erick Vanselow, who was also involved in the case.
Despite her efforts to shift responsibility, Vanselow was ultimately cleared by a jury at Plymouth Crown Court.
Wilkins faced charges of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which she denied.
However, after a three-week trial, the jury found her guilty in September.
The presiding judge, Judge Johnson, sentenced her to a total of seven years in prison, with the understanding that she would serve half of that sentence.
As she was taken away in handcuffs, Wilkins showed little emotional reaction, carrying a packed bag and remaining silent.
Earlier in November 2018, Wilkins, who was working as an escort earning approximately £200 an hour, had already been warned that her violent actions could lead to jail time.
Her assault on her infant, which included shaking and hitting his head against a hard surface, was described as an act of anger and frustration.
The attack took place at her flat in Plymouth, Devon, where the young boy was left fighting for his life.
At the time of her arrest and trial, Wilkins was also studying law at Plymouth University.
During her trial, she recounted a troubled past, claiming she endured severe abuse from her own mother and her mother's partner.
She alleged that her mother forced her to eat her pet guinea pig as a child and that she suffered multiple broken bones.
Jurors were instructed to consider her testimony carefully, as her barrister suggested she was living in a 'parallel universe.' Wilkins attempted to blame her former partner, Vanselow, for failing to protect their son, but Vanselow was acquitted of any failure to do so, having previously been cleared of assault charges.
Wilkins herself was convicted of assaulting her child causing grievous bodily harm on September 22, 2016, the day her son's head was smashed against a hard surface in their shared flat.
She also denied other related charges, including assault causing actual bodily harm between August 31 and September 3, 2016.
The jury, after seven hours of deliberation, found her guilty on all counts, but did not consider alternative charges.
Vanselow was acquitted of a single count of failing to protect his son from birth until the injury date.
Wilkins, originally from Weston Super-Mare, Somerset, stood with her head bowed and eyes closed as the verdicts were read.
Judge Peter Johnson emphasized the seriousness of the case, warning her that her bail did not imply leniency and that a lengthy prison sentence was inevitable.
The full details of the incident that led to the child's hospitalization remain unknown, but the impact of Wilkins' actions has left a lasting scar on her young victim.
