SHANE HAWKINS FROM TREDINGTON AND BODMIN SENTENCED FOR FATAL SHAKING OF BABY SON

In a tragic case that has shocked the communities of Bodmin in Cornwall and Tredington in South Warwickshire, Shane Hawkins has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal death of his 11-month-old son, Kaydon. The heartbreaking incident occurred in December 2010, when the young child was found severely injured at a residence in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Hawkins, aged 25 at the time of sentencing, had initially denied the charge of murder. However, after a thorough trial at Truro Crown Court, the jury reached a majority verdict of guilty. The court subsequently ordered Hawkins to serve a minimum of 14 years behind bars for his role in the child's death.

The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Hawkins’ history of violence and the circumstances leading to Kaydon’s demise. It was established that Hawkins was a physically abusive father who had provided six different explanations for how his son ended up hospitalized. The evidence presented showed that the hemorrhaging observed in Kaydon’s eyes was consistent with being shaken violently, a form of abuse often associated with fatal consequences.

Kaydon was initially taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital for treatment. However, his condition was critical, and he was subsequently transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital. Sadly, the young boy succumbed to his injuries three days later, leaving his family and community devastated.

Hawkins, who resided on Blackwell Road, claimed that the injuries to his son’s head resulted from an accidental fall. He stated that he had dropped Kaydon from approximately three feet onto a storage heater. However, the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Hamblen, dismissed this explanation, describing it as inconsistent with the severity of the injuries. The court heard that Hawkins’ violent shaking of Kaydon was triggered by the child's crying, which interfered with his leisure activity of playing a computer game.

Mr. Justice Hamblen emphasized that Hawkins’ actions directly caused Kaydon’s death. He stated, “You were on your PlayStation and his interruptions angered you, and at some stage, you flipped. Kaydon’s death was caused by your hand, and it was not the first injury he received as a result of your violence against him.” The judge acknowledged that Hawkins showed immediate remorse by calling an ambulance but underscored that this did not undo the damage inflicted upon his young son.

Following the verdict, Detective Inspector Jackie Swift of Devon and Cornwall Police expressed her condemnation of the crime. She described the act as a violent assault against a defenseless baby, who suffered fatal head injuries at the hands of his caregiver. DI Swift highlighted that the investigation uncovered additional injuries sustained by Kaydon during his brief life, all inflicted by his father. She praised the efforts of the Child Abuse Investigation Teams and the Major Crime Team for their sensitive handling of a complex case. The police also extended gratitude to the medical experts whose evidence was crucial in securing Hawkins’ conviction.

This tragic case underscores the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of vigilant intervention to protect vulnerable children from harm.