A father of a seven-week old baby with life-altering injuries claims he ‘nipped at the toilet’ when they were sustained. He also tries to blame the child’s mother on 24 hours in Police Custody.
On Monday night’s episode of the Channel 4 show, Bedfordshire police receive a call from the ambulance service who say there’s a baby with injuries so severe, they’d like to alert the police.
After medical examination shows a significant brain injury which the staff say is inflicted, the baby’s dad Daniel Gilbert, 21, and mother Vikki, 19, are arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken in for interviewing.
DC Hart, who is investigating the baby shaking incident, says that a paramedic took them into the kitchen and saw a naked baby. It was wet. It had blood from its nose.
“I did a quick assessment on the child, at which point the child took one last breath really. So I literally picked up the baby and went outside. I have never witnessed blood come from an orifice without trauma.
Bedfordshire police received an ambulance call at 11.26 stating that there was a baby suffering from cardiac arrest and bleeding from his nose. Pictured is Daniel Gilbert during his police interview
Vikki, who, according to her own admission, had difficulty bonding her with her son, is pictured in her cell, at the police station
He said, “When we arrived at the hospital, the dad looked upset, but he was almost excited. He was going in and out of the A&E department constantly. He didn’t like to hear them trying to save him.
“He did seem upset, but it was more of a stressed out upset.
“They didn’t sob or ask us questions about what was happening or what was going on. They were calling each other. It just didn’t feel right.
The baby is then transferred to Great Ormond Street hospital for intensive care. Parents are given accommodation while he’s there.
When they are both taken into question, Daniel replies ‘no comment’ while Vikki, who admitted to having difficulty bonding with her son by herself, opens up.
The brain scan showing bleeding on the brain of the injured baby (pictured).
Daniel Gilbert claims he ‘nipped at the toilet’ during an interview with police
She says that Daniel took Daniel upstairs at about 5:11 AM. Then, about quarter past past, Daniel ran down the stairs carrying him in his arms. He was floppy. I was so confused. My first reaction was go to my mum.
I was like, “Put him in some water.” I thought maybe that might get him to wake up. Then Daniel called me, telling me that he wasn’t breathing. They asked me about it, and I didn’t know what to answer because I wasn’t there when it happened.
Soon officers receive a briefing on the case and are informed that it is being treated like an attempted murder. The case is referred the major crime unit to further investigation.
DI Justine Jenkins of the Major Crime Unit says: “We are here because we have more resources to investigate the worst crimes.
“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t accept a case if baby hasn’t been killed but the prognosis is so poor that it was justifiable for us to take it.
She explained to her team the story and said: “Dad takes baby up to put him to bed in the basket. At 11 o’clock, he goes back to pick him up, and he’s limp.”
‘Baby goes into hospital, a skeletal scan shows numerous rib fractures. Certainly one fracture is showing signs and healing, which they believe was caused prior to the head injuries.
Daniel Gilbert is arrested by Dc Martin Hart at Great Ormond Street Hospital (pictured).
Vikki is asked by the detective to describe her son’s current condition. She explains that he has suffered injuries in his brain, eyes, and ribs.
“He has cerebral palsy in four limbs. He’s potentially blind, deaf, and has suffered bleeding at his back. This is not a single bleed. He cannot eat or drink with the help of tubes.
“He will need 24-hour care for the rest of his life. It is unlikely that there will be any improvement in the current condition.
Meanwhile, during his interview Daniel starts to speak and alleges: ‘What my mum and sister told me was at Vikki’s, when I went to the toilet, Vikki picked him up by his legs and swung him up.
“She wrote it in a hospital note but her mom read it out. I didn’t really listen to it but I heard the part that said, “I hope your can forgive me in future.” She’s hiding something from me, but I don’t know what.
The detective struggles to unravel the mystery. He says: “The problem we have here, the greatest problem, is that these injuries were very close to when the ambulance was called. As far as you have stated, the baby is with Vikki. After that, you’ve taken him upstairs.
“So, in that last period of your time, you seem to have been present with your child at all times – unless my mistake is.
After a pause Daniel said: “I nipped to go to the toilet once.” That was between 10-11. I was there for about a minute.
The detective continues: “Apart for that one to twenty minutes you are there at all times, you either – except for this new toilet business – have you either seen the injury occur to him, or you are responsible. Unless Vikki was responsible for the injury during the two minutes you were on the toilet.
It only takes seconds, doesn’t it? Daniel says it could have been seconds but he didn’t do it.
Both parents are eventually released in the midst of an investigation. The case is sent to the complex crime unit of the Crown Prosecution for review.
Ten months later, Daniel was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent at crown court and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
The baby is still thriving and has been adopted by his foster family.