24 Hours in police custody viewers condemned the three-year sentence for a’smug dad’ who was found guilty by shaking his seven-week old baby. This left him with cerebral palsy, blindness, and multiple bleeds behind his eyes.
In last night’s episode of the Channel 4 show, Daniel Gilbert, 21, claimed he ‘nipped to the toilet’ when his young son sustained life-changing injuries – before trying to pin blame on the child’s mother, Vikki, 19.
During an interview, the detective updated the couple regarding their baby’s health. condition and explained that he had suffered injuries to his brain and eyes.
“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 he will see any improvement in his current condition.
And viewers were disgusted when Daniel, who was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent at crown court, was sentenced to only three years in prison.
‘Shaking a baby to the point it‘s got cerebral palsy, it’s deaf, blind and had multiple bleeds behind it’s eyes and ya get 3 F****ing YEARS?? How embarrassing is this country’s justice system?? Can make a baby but can’t protect one. Evil horrible b******,’ wrote one.
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: Daniel Gilbert during his interview with police
The brain scan of the baby with bleeding showed bleeding (pictured).
The shocking sentence of Daniel, who was found guilty at crown court of grievous bodily injury with intent, was only three years.
A second commented: ‘Watching #24hoursinpolicecustody and I cannot fathom how people harm their children who are only weeks old! A third commented:
‘Watching in police custody for 24 hours, a man shook the baby of his 7-week old daughter and broke his ribs. This caused him severe brain damage that will last his entire life. He is now blind and deaf and needs 24/7 care. He spent 3 YEARS in prison. Scum of the f**** earth.’
During the episode, Bedfordshire police received a call from the ambulance service who said there was a baby with injuries so severe, they wanted to alert the police.
After medical examination showed a significant brain injury which the staff said was inflicted, the baby’s parents were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken in for interviewing.
“We went into kitchen and I saw a naked baby,” DC Hart, a paramedic, said to him. Hart was investigating the baby shaking incident. It was soaking wet. It had blood coming out of 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.
Daniel was found guilty at crown court of grievous bodily damage with intent and sentenced to three years imprisonment (pictured).
Bedfordshire police received an ambulance call at 11.26 stating that there was a baby suffering from cardiac arrest and bleeding from their nose. Pictured: Daniel Gilbert during his interview with police
Vikki, who admitted to having difficulty bonding with her son by herself, was pictured in her cell at a police station
One person posted the following message on social media: “It’s utterly devastating” (pictured).
He continued, “When we arrived at hospital, the dad did look upset but he was almost excited. He was going in and out of the A&E department constantly. He didn’t want them to know he was there and that they were trying to save his child.
“He did appear upset, but it was more a stressed upset.
“They didn’t sob or ask us questions about what was happening or what was going on. They were making phone calls. It just didn’t feel right.
The critically ill baby was transferred to Great Ormond Street hospital, where he was subsequently placed in intensive care. While he was there, his parents were given accommodation.
However, when they were both interrogated, Daniel said ‘no comment’ and Vikki, a mother who had difficulty bonding to her son, opened her mouth.
She explained, “At around 5 past 11, Daniel was taking him upstairs, and then, about quarter past, Daniel ran down the stairs carrying him in his arms, and he was floppy.” I was so confused. My first instinct was to run and get my mom.
“Put him into some water,” I thought. I thought maybe that would wake him up. Then Daniel called me and said 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 received a briefing on the case, and were informed that the case was being treated as attempted murder. The case was referred back to the major crime section for further investigation.
Daniel Gilbert was arrested by Dc Martin Hart at Great Ormond Street Hospital (pictured).
DI Justine Jenkins of the Major Crime Unit explained, “We are here to probe the most serious of crime because we have more resources to do so.”
“Ordinarily we wouldn’t take a case where baby hasn’t died, but the prognosis was so poor and life-limiting that it was right to take it,”
She explained to her team the details of the account. She 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.
Meanwhile, during his interview Daniel started to speak and alleged: ‘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 mum read it out to me. I wasn’t really paying attention to it, but I heard it as “I hope you can forgive me in the future.” I think she is hiding something, but don’t know what.
The detective was unable to resolve the mystery. According to you, the baby is with Vikki. After that, you have taken him upstairs.
Daniel Gilbert stated that he “nipped to the bathroom” when he was being interviewed by police
“So, in that last period of your time, you seem to have been present with your child at all times – unless my mistaken.
After a pause Daniel stated: “I nipped at the toilet once.” It was between 10 and 11. I was there for a minute or so.
The detective continued: “Apart for that one to twenty minutes you are there at all times, you either – except for this new toilet business – have you either witnessed 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. Daniel says it could have been seconds, but he didn’t do this.
Both parents were eventually released, pending further investigation. The case was sent for review to the Crown Prosecution’s complex crimes unit.
Ten months later, Daniel was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent at crown court and sentenced to 3 years in prison. Vikki, Vikki’s mother, was not indicted.
The baby was still able to survive despite all medical prognosis. His foster parents adopted him and have been caring since.
One viewer posted on social media: “That was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen…I literally feel sick,” while another commented: “That was hard to watch.” It took them three years to inflict terrible injuries on that poor baby. There should be a zero before that.
A third person added: “Bit of a sicknessener that one,” while a fourth person added: “Anyone else in shock or disbelief at what they’ve just seen?” It’s beyond awful to see that poor baby dead and hear all the injuries.