MATTHEW WICKENS SHOCKS PAIGNTON WITH DEVON BABY TRAGEDY

In a tragic case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Paignton and the wider Devon area, Matthew Wickens, aged 24, has been sentenced to prison for the fatal assault on his five-week-old son, Rilee Gardener. The heartbreaking incident occurred in November 2012, when Wickens, who was then living in Paignton, inflicted severe head injuries on his infant, leading to Rilee's death.

According to court proceedings, Wickens violently threw the crying baby into his cot, causing catastrophic head trauma. The severity of the injuries was such that post-mortem examinations revealed internal bleeding inside Rilee's head and eyes, injuries typically associated with non-accidental shaking and impact. Despite the child's distress, Wickens did not seek immediate medical help or alert anyone to the severity of the situation. Instead, he attempted to conceal the injury by placing a hat on Rilee's head, a detail highlighted during the trial.

It was only when Rilee's mother, Gemma Gardener, returned home and noticed her son had been silent for an unusually long period that she discovered him lifeless and cold in his cot. Alarmed and distressed, she called her father, Christopher Gardener, who owns a shop opposite the flat in Winner Street, Paignton. As a trained first aider, Christopher attempted to resuscitate Rilee but was ultimately unsuccessful. Paramedics arrived shortly after and transported the infant to the hospital, where doctors found bruising on his head that had been hidden beneath the hat Wickens had placed on him.

During police interviews, Wickens initially claimed that he thought Rilee might have choked on vomit, but medical examinations and investigations painted a different picture. The post-mortem confirmed that the injuries were consistent with violent shaking and impact, leading to the conclusion that the death was non-accidental. Wickens later admitted to shaking and throwing his son into the cot in a moment of frustration, explaining that Rilee would not stop crying. His account was that he lost control after feeling overwhelmed by the child's persistent crying.

The court heard that Wickens had lied for approximately 15 months, falsely claiming that he had accidentally dropped Rilee, which temporarily cast suspicion on the child's mother, Gemma Gardener. Prosecutor Simon Laws QC described how Wickens had caused serious and unsurvivable injuries during the afternoon of November 25, 2012, when he was left solely in charge of Rilee. Wickens's actions, including shaking and throwing the baby, resulted in injuries that proved fatal.

Throughout the trial, emotional testimonies were given, including a moving victim impact statement from Gemma Gardener, who expressed her profound grief and the pain of losing her son. She recounted the moment she found Rilee and the devastating aftermath of his death. The court also heard that Wickens, who worked at Asda, had been overwhelmed by fatigue and stress, which his defense argued may have contributed to his loss of temper. His lawyer, Mr. Paul Dunkels QC, described Wickens as immature for his age but emphasized that he had tried to be a supportive father, often waking multiple times during the night to care for Rilee.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC sentenced Wickens to six years and five months in prison for manslaughter, reflecting the gravity of the crime. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Paignton, highlighting the tragic consequences of violence and neglect towards vulnerable infants.