PAUL CARLTON SHAKES BABY IN GLASGOW BLAMES PET DOG FOR HORRIFIC INJURIES
In October 2019, a disturbing case unfolded in Glasgow involving a 25-year-old man named Paul Carlton, whose actions resulted in devastating injuries to an eight-week-old infant.The young boy suffered catastrophic brain damage, rendering him unable to see, talk, walk, or move his arms, leaving his family and loved ones in profound distress.
During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, it was revealed that Carlton was responsible for inflicting these lifelong injuries while the child's mother was away.
Strikingly, Carlton attempted to shift the blame onto his pet dog, an American Bulldog-Staffie cross named Sapphire.
He claimed that the dog was responsible for the attack, a statement met with disbelief by those present in court.
The child's grandfather, visibly upset, spoke out about the severity of the injuries and the impact on the young boy’s quality of life.
He described the boy as being unable to see, speak, walk, or even move his arms, emphasizing that Carlton’s actions had effectively destroyed his grandson’s life.
Despite the tragedy, the grandfather expressed a sense of relief that the child was still alive, though he lamented the extent of the damage.
He condemned Carlton’s behavior, recalling previous violence, including an incident where Carlton headbutted the boy’s mother, causing her to bleed.
The grandfather’s emotional commentary underscored the profound sense of injustice and anger towards Carlton, whom he believed deserved harsher punishment.
He stated, “He has no quality of life.
He can’t see, he can’t talk, he can’t walk, he can’t move his arms — he can’t do anything.
Carlton’s ruined that child’s life.
It’s very tough.
The wean is alive, which is the only bonus.” The court heard that Carlton was responsible for the injuries while caring for the infant in August 2017, during a period when the child's mother had gone out for a beauty appointment and lunch.
A health visitor had checked on the baby that morning, and everything appeared normal.
Carlton had even sent a video to the mother showing the child waving and kicking his legs, suggesting he was fine at that time.
However, approximately 90 minutes after she left, Carlton called emergency services, claiming he had left the baby alone in his swing with two dogs and was outside tidying his garden when he heard the child's cry.
He denied being responsible for the injuries, asserting, “I would never hurt any child.” Carlton described Sapphire as “boisterous” and mentioned that the dog had previously “cut and bruised” a girl, leading him to speculate that Sapphire might have injured the baby.
When questioned about why he allowed the dog near the child, Carlton explained, “I thought because I had another dog she would learn from him and calm down possibly.” Prosecutor Alan Cameron pointed out that the injuries did not resemble bite marks or cuts typical of a pet attack.
He emphasized that the dog would have had to have shaken the baby with significant force or collided with him violently to cause such injuries.
Carlton maintained his innocence, stating, “The only explanation I have is the dog as I know I did not harm the child.” However, expert testimony from neuroradiologist Professor Robin Sellar confirmed that the injuries were consistent with a shaking injury, indicating a violent trauma.
Throughout the trial, Carlton showed no visible emotion as the jury found him guilty of attempted murder last week.
Lord Burns remanded him in custody and deferred sentencing to allow for reports to be prepared, leaving the community and the family of the young victim awaiting further legal proceedings.
