A COUPLE whose 24-day-old baby son died of head injuries have been convicted of causing or allowing his death.

Roxanne Davis, 30, mother of Stanley Davis, and her partner, Samuel Davies, 24, were convicted yesterday following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

The court heard that Stanley lived for just over three weeks and that Davis, of Lee Road, Gosport, and Davies, of Mayfield Road, Southampton, had been his main carers since his birth on 4 March 2017.

Stanley was rushed to hospital on 21 March and died later.

The jury was told that one of the two defendants inflicted fatal injuries to Stanley’s head, causing a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage from which he could not recover.

Both denied the charges.

During the trial, Davis told the court that when her son was born she was "over the moon" and added: "I had my whole world in my hands."

She said her mental health was "amazing" with her son and added: "Stanley took it all away."

Following his death, Stanley’s body was examined by medical experts and in addition to the fracture to his skull, he was found to have sustained 32 fractures to his ribs and nine fractures to his arms and legs that were caused on more than one earlier occasion.

Carl Anderson, a senior crown prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said his "thoughts are with the members of Stanley's extended family who have lost a child in such harrowing circumstances".

He added: "The CPS presented evidence to the court including CCTV, telephone logs and medical records from doctors and nurses who saw Stanley and medical experts who provided evidence in relation to his injuries.

"During post-natal appointments and check-ups, Davis and Davies gave medical staff the impression there were no problems with Stanley and only reported difficulties in getting him to take his milk. The reality was quite different. Both knew Stanley had already suffered serious injuries but neither said anything, leaving Stanley without the medical attention he desperately needed.

"Both the defendants denied killing Stanley but it was clear from all the evidence that one of them had caused the horrific head injury that killed him.

"The other was, or should have been aware, that there was a risk of serious harm to Stanley because of the multiple fractures he had already suffered but instead of doing something to prevent anything further happening to him, they did nothing."

An NSPCC spokesperson added: “The circumstances surrounding the death of baby Stanley are tragic and disturbing.

“His short life was plagued with pain and suffering, caused by the very people who should have loved and protected him from harm.

“Babies and young children are entirely dependent on those who care for them and we all have a duty to look out for their welfare.”