Man (23) faces jail in baby cruelty case

A MAN sent from Pakistan to care for baby could be facing jail after admitting cruelty to the baby.

Syed Raza (23) pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under 16 at Burnley Crown Court. The defendant, of Hutton Drive, Burnley, was remanded in custody until March 18th for a pre-sentence report.

Police began their investigation into the baby’s injuries after reports of an incident on Sunday, June 13th, at a house in Burnley. The little boy was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital because he had breathing difficulties. Doctors discovered head injuries and arranged for the child to be transferred to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

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The baby was released from hospital last August, but has been treated since then for further complications.

It emerged in court that the baby’s mother had died on New Year’s Day of last year, two months after the birth of her baby.

Raza had come from Pakistan to help care for the child. It is not known exactly what caused the baby’s injuries which were explained as “non-accidental head injuries”.

Raza was arrested on June 17th and charged with grievous bodily harm the following day. This was later reduced to a lesser charge of cruelty.

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Judge Graham Knowles, QC, said that on the sentencing date he would like an update on the victim’s condition and the prognosis.

He told Raza: “Every sentencing option remains open to me in this profoundly distressing and tragic case.”

Det. Insp Derry Crorken, of the police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “This was a tragic case. My thoughts are with the child who will grow up with severe neurological damage and be disabled for the rest of his life.

“The evidence indicates this may have been a momentary loss of control resulting in serious injuries to the baby.”