RICHARD MORGAN AND RACHEL PEACOCK FROM TANTOBIE SENTENCED IN COUNTY DURHAM FOR BABY'S DEATH

In December 2012, a tragic case unfolded in County Durham that culminated in the sentencing of Richard Morgan and Rachel Peacock for their roles in the death of a 13-month-old boy named Slater. The incident, which took place in the small village of Tantobie, shocked the local community and drew significant media attention due to the brutal nature of the injuries inflicted on the young child.

Richard Morgan, aged 33 at the time, was found guilty of manslaughter following a lengthy trial that lasted over four weeks. The court heard that Morgan, who was not the biological father of Slater, was left in sole charge of the boy while his partner, Rachel Peacock, 31, went shopping. During this period, over a span of approximately 18 hours, Morgan inflicted severe injuries on the child, ultimately leading to his death. The evidence presented revealed that Slater suffered from 25 bruises covering his head to his toes, injuries that contributed to his death in December 2010.

Mr. Justice King, delivering the sentence at Newcastle Crown Court, emphasized that Morgan’s actions were primarily the result of forceful shaking, which occurred during a moment of loss of control. The judge explained that Morgan’s frustration likely stemmed from Slater’s crying and whingeing, possibly exacerbated by the separation from his mother. Despite Morgan’s assertion that he did not intend to cause serious harm, the court found that his actions were reckless and resulted in the child's tragic death. The judge clarified that Morgan had been a good father to his own children but acknowledged that the injuries inflicted on Slater were severe and unacceptable.

While the bruising observed on Slater prior to his death could not be definitively linked to Morgan, there was compelling evidence of assaults over a 24-hour period leading up to the fatal injury. The court also heard that Morgan had claimed he left the child momentarily in the living room, only to return and find him collapsed. The child's mother, Rachel Peacock, who had been living with Morgan for two months, was acquitted of causing or allowing her son’s death but was convicted of cruelty to a child. This conviction stemmed from an incident a month before Slater’s death, when she refused to take him to the hospital despite her GP’s advice, in defiance of medical recommendations.

Peacock was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with the judge noting that this single act of neglect did not contribute directly to Slater’s death. During the trial, Peacock explained that she had left Slater playing with his toys while she briefly went to a local shop, and upon her return, she found the boy unconscious. Morgan claimed he had left the child in the living room and returned to find him collapsed. Emergency services were called, and Slater was rushed to Shotley Bridge Hospital, then transferred to the University Hospital of North Durham, but sadly, all efforts to save him failed.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chapman commented outside the court that the case was about Morgan taking responsibility for his actions. He stated, “This was all about Richard Morgan taking responsibility for his actions. He has always said it was not him, and ultimately the jury found him guilty. For the family, this was all about getting a conviction.”

At the time of the incident, Morgan and Peacock were living together in Tantobie. The court heard that on the day of Slater’s death, December 11, 2010, he had gone to the supermarket with his mother and returned home for tea. However, when Peacock realized she had forgotten something, she left Slater alone with Morgan to visit her local shop. During her absence, Slater lost consciousness. Morgan claimed he had left the child playing with his toys and that he returned to find Slater lying face-down, unresponsive. The child's body was taken to hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries hours later.

Pathological examinations revealed multiple head wounds consistent with being beaten or struck against objects, along with bruises on his legs indicating he had been gripped tightly. The medical report also noted extensive and severe bleeding in his eyes, along with brain swelling and bleeding, signs indicative of violent shaking. The court concluded that the fatal injury could only have occurred when Slater was left alone with Morgan, and that this was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of abuse.

Rachel Peacock, who was found guilty of cruelty, had previously fled a doctor’s appointment a month before her son’s death when it was suggested he should be examined by a specialist. She had also lied about the extent of her son’s injuries during a shopping trip on the day he died, claiming she could not take him to the doctor because of his condition. The couple, who had been living together in Tantobie, faced the tragic consequences of their neglect and violence, which ultimately led to the loss of a young life that could not be saved despite medical intervention.