EVIL MAN WHO SHOOK BABY SO VIOLENTLY HE CAUSED "CATASTROPHIC" JAILED
Warning: This story contains details that may be upsetting to some readers.In a case that has shocked the community of Wakefield, Joshua Moody, a 25-year-old resident of Thornleigh Drive, was finally brought to justice after a prolonged period of denial regarding the brutal assault on a seven-week-old infant.
The incident, which occurred in the summer of 2017, resulted in devastating injuries to the young child, leaving him with lifelong disabilities and requiring constant care.
According to court proceedings, the events unfolded late at night when an ambulance was summoned to an address in Wakefield after the baby became unresponsive.
Emergency services found the infant in a critical state, having stopped breathing.
Moody, along with other adults present at the scene, was asked to perform CPR while paramedics arrived.
The child was subsequently diagnosed with a cardiac arrest and was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital before being transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).
Medical examinations revealed a grim array of injuries.
The infant had haemorrhages in various parts of his body, including behind both eyes and in his spine.
Additionally, he had six broken ribs, one of which was already beginning to heal an indication that it had been fractured during a previous assault.
A fractured shin bone was also identified.
These injuries painted a clear picture of severe, ongoing abuse.
Despite initial denials from Moody, expert medical testimony confirmed that the injuries were consistent with “life-threatening child abuse,” with many inflicted immediately prior to the cardiac arrest.
The injuries were deemed to have been caused by violent shaking, a conclusion supported by the pattern and timing of the trauma.
The severity of the injuries meant that the child's prognosis was initially grim, with medical staff and family members told to prepare for the worst.
Over the following weeks, the child's condition gradually improved.
He was able to breathe independently, but the damage inflicted was profound.
He now suffers from impaired vision and hearing, is unable to speak or move, and has developed epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
These disabilities indicate that he will require round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.
Moody, who was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, later pleaded guilty to causing GBH without intent.
The court accepted this plea, and Moody’s attempt to deny responsibility had a significant impact on the investigation.
His persistent denials led to suspicions falling on the child's mother and her own mother, both of whom were subsequently arrested.
The mother, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, described her ordeal as a “nightmare journey” that spanned nearly four years.
In her statement, she expressed her frustration and heartbreak, saying, “As a family we were all under suspicion.
Josh maintained his innocence throughout.
By maintaining his innocence, he was inferring I had to be responsible for what had happened.
The fact is Josh could have prevented this by admitting his responsibility on any number of occasions.
The actions of Josh are terrible and inexcusable.” Judge Penelope Belcher sentenced Moody to three years and nine months in prison, emphasising the gravity of his actions and the lifelong impact on the young victim.
The case has left a lasting scar on the Wakefield community, highlighting the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of accountability.
