KEITH BALLARD FLEEING COVENTRY TO POLAND AFTER SHAKING BABY SON, LEAVING HIM BRAIN-DAMAGED AND PARALYZED
In June 2018, a tragic and disturbing case unfolded involving Keith Ballard, a man from Coventry, who was found guilty of inflicting severe injuries on his 27-day-old son, Jake.The incident, which took place in Coventry, resulted in catastrophic and lifelong damage to the infant, including blindness, deafness, quadriplegia, and extensive brain injury.
The case drew significant attention due to the brutality of the act and the subsequent flight of the perpetrator.
Keith Ballard, aged 31 at the time, was accused of violently shaking his newborn son, an act that caused a traumatic brain injury with devastating consequences.
The incident occurred at their home in Coventry, where Ballard was the sole caregiver at the time.
According to court proceedings, Jake was a healthy baby with no prior health issues, and routine screenings had shown normal development.
However, at midnight on September 9th, while in Ballard’s sole care, Jake suddenly collapsed into a state of encephalopathy, indicating severe brain damage.
Ballard reportedly woke his partner, Sharon Herbert, who was asleep in bed, and took the baby to her.
Herbert immediately recognized that something was terribly wrong with Jake, describing his condition as frightening.
Medical experts agreed that Jake was in a critical state at the time of injury, yet neither Ballard nor Herbert called for emergency medical assistance immediately.
Instead, Ballard delayed calling 111, the NHS non-emergency helpline, for at least ten minutes, during which he concealed the severity of Jake’s condition, describing him merely as “a bit floppy” when feeding him.
Herbert was complicit in this misrepresentation, according to prosecutors.
Eventually, an ambulance was dispatched, but not because it was requested promptly.
The call operator, upon realizing the seriousness of Jake’s condition, intervened after a delay of approximately thirty minutes following the collapse.
Medical examinations revealed extensive bleeding on the surface of Jake’s brain, signs of swelling, and damage caused by inadequate blood supply.
The evidence pointed to a traumatic brain injury caused by violent shaking, involving rotational acceleration and deceleration forces, with or without impact.
Prosecutors argued that Ballard intentionally caused this injury by deliberately shaking his son, a conclusion supported by the medical findings.
Following the injury, Jake was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit before being moved back to University Hospital in Coventry.
Multiple examinations confirmed that the entire brain had sustained permanent damage, resulting in severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
He is now blind and deaf, unable to swallow, and suffers from epilepsy.
His cognitive functions are severely impaired, with little or no awareness of his surroundings.
Doctors have stated that there is no possibility of meaningful recovery.
During the trial, it was revealed that Keith Ballard had fled Coventry on the day the jury was due to begin deliberations.
He had gone to Poland with a new girlfriend, who was Polish, and was living with her at her parents’ home in Tarquin Close, Willenhall, Coventry.
The family of the girlfriend was unaware of the case, believing Ballard to be at work each day.
Prosecutors disclosed that there had been discussions about Ballard and his girlfriend traveling to Poland, and that they had purchased a one-way ticket.
Once the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest, police contacted his new partner, who confronted him.
In response, Ballard got into his car and drove away, refusing to face the charges.
Judge Sally Hancox, presiding over the case at Birmingham Crown Court, issued an 18-year prison sentence in absentia for Keith Ballard, with 16 years for causing Jake’s injuries and an additional two years for failing to seek medical help promptly.
The judge also ordered that once Ballard is apprehended, he should be brought before her to be informed of his sentence and to face charges related to his escape.
Meanwhile, Sharon Herbert received a sentence of two years in prison, suspended for two years, along with a 30-day rehabilitation activity.
Her conviction was for cruelty by neglect, as she failed to seek timely medical treatment for her son, contributing to his suffering.
In summary, this case highlights the tragic consequences of violent parental abuse and the subsequent flight of the perpetrator.
Keith Ballard remains at large, having fled to Poland, and authorities continue to seek his arrest and extradition to face justice for the grievous harm inflicted upon his infant son in Coventry.
