NATHAN RAWLING JAILED FOR 10 YEARS IN GRAVESEND FOR BRUTAL BABY ATTACK

In a case that has shocked the community of Gravesend, Nathan Rawling, a 36-year-old man residing on St Gregory’s Crescent, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for a violent and merciless assault on a one-month-old infant. The incident, which took place on the morning of December 1, 2011, involved injuries so severe that they left the young child with 26 fractured ribs, two broken collar bones, and a fractured right arm. The prosecution described the attack as both frenzied and brutal, highlighting the extent of the child's injuries and the cruelty inflicted upon him.

Rawling faced charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but he denied the allegations. Despite his denial, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty on Monday afternoon. Throughout the three-week trial, jurors, consisting of six women and six men, heard harrowing testimonies detailing the events leading up to and following the assault. The young victim, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, was subjected to a violent episode that nearly resulted in his death.

During sentencing, Judge Jeremy Carey addressed Rawling directly, condemning his actions. He stated, “You broke his arm and did so in a way that must have caused him immense pain. You twisted his penis in a brutal way in your anger because he urinated on you when you went to change him, and most fundamentally of all, you squeezed him so tightly, so hard, and so persistently that you fractured 25 bones in his rib cage—a devastating injury from which he nearly died.” The judge emphasized that Rawling’s conduct represented a gross abuse of trust and was committed while he was completely out of control.

Rawling claimed that some of the injuries, including the fractures to the chest and arm, occurred accidentally. He argued that he performed CPR on the baby after he stopped breathing and turned blue, despite admitting to being a novice at such procedures. Additionally, he maintained that the injury to the child's genitals resulted from him kneeling on the area by mistake. However, these explanations did not sway the court, which sentenced him to a minimum of five years in prison, with the possibility of serving up to ten years.

Following the sentencing, concerns about potential vigilante actions arose within the Gravesend community. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Pritchard of the Kent Police public protection unit praised local residents for their restraint and composure during this difficult time. He expressed gratitude that the community allowed law enforcement to conduct their investigation without interference, describing the situation as more of a “vigil of peace” than vigilantism. Pritchard also commended the medical team at Darent Valley Hospital, noting that the injuries sustained by the child were among the most extensive he had ever seen on a surviving child. He highlighted the exceptional care provided by hospital staff, which contributed significantly to the child's survival and ongoing recovery.