HAYLEY BEST AND STEVEN BUCKLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN RUSHDEN AND BEDFORDSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Hayley Best, aged 37, and Steven Buckley, aged 32, both residents of Northamptonshire, have been convicted and sentenced for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a young child under their care. The incident that led to their arrest and subsequent trial took place in September 2020, when emergency services were called to a residence in Wymington, Bedfordshire, after reports of a critically injured one-year-old child.

Upon arrival, paramedics found the child suffering from multiple severe injuries, including a fractured skull, a brain bleed, and unexplained bruising across various parts of the body. The injuries were so grave that immediate medical intervention was required to stabilize the child's condition. The couple, who were present at the scene, claimed that the injuries resulted from the child falling off a chair onto a hard kitchen floor. However, they admitted that neither of them had witnessed the fall, raising suspicions about the true cause of the child's injuries.

Medical experts who examined the child later concluded that the injuries were non-accidental, directly contradicting the couple’s account. The evidence pointed towards deliberate harm rather than an accidental fall. Despite observing the child's vomiting and signs of distress, Best and Buckley delayed seeking urgent medical help. During this critical period, Best contacted a friend via messaging, seeking advice on what to do. It was the friend who insisted that an ambulance be called immediately, highlighting the delay and possible attempt to conceal the severity of the child's condition.

Following their arrest, both Best and Buckley faced a four-week trial at Luton Crown Court. The court proceedings revealed the extent of the injuries and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the delay in medical treatment. The jury found both individuals guilty of causing or permitting serious physical harm to a child. As a result, Best was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while Buckley received a sentence of seven years, with an additional three years on extended licence to monitor his conduct after release.

Detective Constable Charlie Sermons, who led the investigation, described the case as