JOHN DOAK FROM SPALDING SENTENCED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN TRAGIC CASE INVOLVING LAINDON BOY

In a deeply distressing case that has shocked the local communities of Laindon and Spalding, a man named John Doak has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to the manslaughter of his son, Jack Mitchell. The tragic events date back nearly two decades, when Jack was just a baby, and the consequences of his father's actions have reverberated through the lives of many involved.

Jack Mitchell was born in January 2001 as a healthy infant, showing no immediate signs of health issues. However, during the first few months of his life, while residing in Laindon, he experienced a series of alarming health episodes. Between March and May of that year, Jack suffered four separate incidents where he stopped breathing. Despite medical intervention and being revived each time, doctors were unable to determine the underlying cause of these episodes. All four episodes occurred while his father, John Doak, was the sole caregiver at the time.

The situation escalated during the fourth incident, which prompted an urgent hospital visit. Medical examinations revealed that Jack had sustained retinal haemorrhages and subdural haematomas—serious injuries indicative of severe trauma. A paediatrician concluded that these injuries were consistent with 'shaken baby syndrome,' a form of child abuse resulting from violently shaking an infant. Although Jack survived these injuries, he was left with extensive and irreversible brain damage, requiring constant, round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.

Following these events, John Doak was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent. In 2002, he was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison. Jack was subsequently removed from his biological parents' home in Laindon by social services and placed with a foster family in Harwich. His name was also changed to protect his identity, and he required continuous medical attention due to the severity of his injuries.

Tragically, Jack's health continued to decline over the years. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 15 in Colchester Hospital. A forensic post-mortem examination revealed that his death was caused by a pulmonary infection and pneumonia, complications that stemmed from the injuries he sustained as a baby. His death prompted a review of the case, which ultimately led to further legal action against John Doak.

In September of the previous year, Doak, then aged 37 and residing on Delegate Avenue in Spalding, was summoned to appear in court to face a murder charge. During the proceedings at Chelmsford Crown Court, he admitted to the lesser charge of manslaughter. On the day of sentencing, the court handed down a three-year prison term, taking into account his prior conviction for causing grievous bodily harm.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate expressed his sentiments regarding the case, stating, “This is a tragic case of a young man who had any chance of a future taken away by the actions of his father. Jack’s injuries he sustained as a child were so severe he required extensive, round-the-clock care. John Doak was meant to care for and protect his son but instead deprived him of a future and now faces a significant amount of time in prison. My thoughts also go out to Jack’s adoptive parents who had given him many wonderful years before his death. They continue to live with the sad loss of Jack.”