STEPHEN ETHERIDGE ESCAPES PRISON AFTER BITING SEVEN-MONTH-OLD IN RADCLIFFE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Radcliffe, a young man named Stephen Etheridge narrowly avoided imprisonment after an incident involving a seven-month-old child under his care. The incident took place on the morning of December 9 last year, when the child's mother left her infant in Etheridge's custody so she could attend to her work commitments.

According to court proceedings at Bury Magistrates Court, Etheridge, who resides on Ainsworth Road in Radcliffe, was responsible for looking after the baby that day. The child was later taken to a childminder named Gail Jones, who noticed a concerning injury during a routine nappy change. Miss Jones observed a bite mark on the lower part of the child's left leg and immediately contacted social services. The authorities responded swiftly, and police were called to investigate the matter.

The baby was examined by a medical professional, who confirmed that the injury was caused by an adult within the previous 24 hours. This evidence pointed to a serious breach of trust and raised concerns about the child's safety.

During police interviews, Etheridge admitted to biting the infant. He explained that after feeding the child, the baby became restless and unsettled. According to his account, the child then hit him in the private area, which prompted Etheridge to grab the child's leg and bite him through his pyjama bottoms. This admission was met with disapproval from the court.

Representing Etheridge, Mr. Tim Hopley, highlighted that his client had shown remorse for his actions. Despite this, the magistrates considered the incident to be extremely serious, especially given the context of the breach of trust involved in caring for a vulnerable child.

Chairman of the bench, Mr. Perin, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We regard this as a very serious situation. It was an abuse of trust in that you were caring for the child. You are extremely lucky not to be going to prison.”

As a result, magistrates sentenced Etheridge to a three-month prison term, suspended for a period, along with 240 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay costs of £60. The court made it clear that while he would not serve time immediately, the consequences of his actions were significant.

The child, now nine months old, continues to be cared for by his mother. Social services have confirmed that the baby is receiving appropriate and proper care, and there are no ongoing concerns about his well-being following the incident in Radcliffe.