Jacob Crouch's stepfather jailed for minimum 28 years for baby's murder

1. Jacob Crouch's mother and stepfather have been sentenced at Derby Crown Court over their roles in the baby's death in 2020
2. Stepfather Craig Crouch has been given a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of the 10-month-old at his Derbyshire home
3. Jacob's mother Gemma Barton has been given 10 years for causing or allowing the death of a child; she was cleared of murder during the trial
4. Members of the Crouch family are all "broken", the court has heard during today's emotional victim impact statements
5. Jacob was assaulted numerous times in the months leading up to his death, before the final fatal attack by his stepfather
6. If you've been affected by this distressing case, support is available from the BBC Action Line via the link at the top of this page

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Sam Hancock

Live reporter

PA Media

Jacob Crouch died in his cot on 30 December 2020 following months of abuse by his stepfather

We're going to end our live coverage there. If you want to read more about today's hearing - or the seven-week trial of Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton - we suggest heading to today's main news story as a starting point.

A quick reminder of what happened today:

• Jacob Crouch's stepfather Craig - convicted of the 10-month-old's murder - was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years
• Jacob's mother Barton - convicted of allowing his death to happen - received a sentence of 10 years
• Mr Justice Kerr, the judge, described Jacob as a "happy, smiley, bubbly baby", and said it was "nothing less than tragic that he will never become a boy, and then a man"

Once again, if you or someone you know needs help after reading this page, the details of organisations offering assistance can be found on the BBC Action Line website.

This page was edited by myself, Jamie Whitehead and James FitzGerald. It was written by Phil Mackie, Alex Homer, Adam Durbin, Gem O'Reilly, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Jacqueline Howard, Ben Morris and Anna Boyd - with video produced by James Harness.

Happy family facade didn't raise suspicions

Phil Mackie

Reporting from Derby Crown Court

Gemma Barton was very much a victim as well, in that she was a victim of coercive control from a man who didn't really allow her a say.

Craig Couch was dominating, had his very set ways and was a bully. He imposed his rules on the house and physical discipline of Jacob.

But Crouch was actually described as an unlikely murderer because he had no previous convictions, he held down a steady job, wasn't a drug addict and didn't have a chaotic lifestyle.

The authorities simply didn't know what was going on because of the controlling relationship that Craig Crouch had with Gemma Barton.

Various family members had become estranged and they weren't in close contact with Jacob so they hadn't seen what was happening themselves.

Jacob's carers also put on this facade of being a happy family, posting videos, sharing content, that wouldn't have raised suspicions.

Coercive control a very subtle form of domestic abuse - campaigner

Sharon Bryan, from the National Centre for Domestic Violence, says she doesn't "think any of us can say that it won't happen again", telling the BBC that coercive control in particular is a "very subtle form of domestic abuse".

She says "sadly I don't think that we can stop it" but we can try and make domestic abuse of any form "socially unacceptable" so that people start to report things when they see them or suspect them.

Quiet outside courtroom after hearing ends

Alex Homer

Reporting from Derby Crown Court

Outside the courtroom, it was quiet after the hearing concluded.

Family who had observed the trial clustered around the senior investigating officer, Det Ch Ins Paul Bullock from Derbyshire Constabulary, to talk through the judge’s remarks while he passed sentence.

Tears were streaked down their faces as they spoke in hushed voices.

Police asked about child cruelty during lockdown

Det Ch Ins Bullock is taking questions from the media now.

Asked about increased risk of child cruelty for those born during lockdown, Bullock says there will be police inquires wherever this is the case.

"Hopefully this is the last one [we] will have to deal with," he says of Derbyshire Constabulary.

On his own team, Bullock says it's fair to say they're "exhausted". They've dealt with it all fantastically, he adds, and will continue to support one another as time goes on.

With that, he's thanked for his time and returns inside the court.

'A dangerous individual can cause no further harm'

Paul Bullock of Derbyshire Police hopes today brings "some closure" to Jacob's family

Det Ch Ins Paul Bullock from Derbyshire Constabulary has just delivered an emotional statement saying: "No sentence can bring Jacob back. I hope today brings the family some closure on what has been a horrific two-and-a-half years."

Bullock says his condolences are with the family and would like to ask for privacy "for them during this time."

He added: "I would like to thank those involved who helped to secure justice for Jacob and that has meant that a dangerous individual can cause no further harm."

Police give statement

Det Ch Ins Paul Bullock is speaking now - we'll let you know what he says.

Police statement expected

We're expecting to hear from Derbyshire Constabulary imminently - stay on this page and we'll let you know what's said.

You'll be able to watch it live at the top of this page as well - just click the Play button.

Abuse likely missed as Jacob was born during Covid, expert says

Jacob Crouch being born at the height of the pandemic may have led to him being missed by social services, a child safeguarding adviser has said.

Kelechi Ukandu describes him as "unseen child", who was not seen by social workers in person when many services were being held remotely.

This means if no specific concern for his safety was raised, then social services might never have had Jacob referred to them, she tells BBC News.

Ukandu also says Jacob's age made him particularly vulnerable, as at 10-months old he had no means of communicating the abuse he was being subjected to.

Couple sentenced in death of 10-month-old Jacob Crouch

PA Media

We've just heard Mr Justice Kerr sentence the mother and stepfather of Jacob Crouch for his death.

• Craig Crouch, who was convicted of Jacob's murder earlier this week, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years
• Jacob's mother Gemma Barton, who was convicted of allowing his death to happen, has received a sentence of 10 years - half of which will be spent in custody and half on licence
• Before the sentencing, Kerr said he was sure that Crouch had caused the bruises seen on Jacob - and that Barton, in the end, knew her son had been injured
• But both failed to seek medical treatment, which influenced their sentencing, the judge concluded
• Kerr said Crouch had manipulated Barton with "coercive and controlling behaviour" - but he wasn't counting that in "her favour" because allowing her baby to be killed outweighed this factor

Jacob was a happy, smiley, bubbly baby who never complained about the horrific treatment he was receiving.

It is nothing less than tragic that he will never become a boy, and then a man."

Mr Justice KerrJudge

Watch: Craig Crouch sentenced to minimum 28 years

Here is the moment when Mr Justice Kerr announced that Craig Crouch would spend 28 years in prison for the murder of his stepson Jacob Crouch.

Mr Justice Kerr says Crouch has not shown any remorse for the murder of Jacob

Barton's arm shook as she stood

Alex Homer

Reporting from Derby Crown Court

Gemma Barton’s right arm shook as she stood and she pulled the sleeve of her cardigan over her hand while the judge told her she would spend half of her 10-year sentence in custody and half on licence.

Crouch was told to stand to receive his prison sentence

Alex Homer

Reporting from Derby Crown Court

During the hearing, Craig Crouch was told to stand by the judge as he passed sentence.

Crouch crossed his arms in front of him and looked ahead as he was told the 395 days he has spent in custody would be deducted from the 28 years of his sentence.

Support is available if you've been affected

We've reported the judge's comments in detail - and you can see this is a very distressing case.

If you, or someone you know, needs help after reading this page, the details of organisations offering assistance can be found on the BBC Action Line website.

Hearing comes to an end

Having run through the final sentencing, Mr Justice Kerr has sent Crouch and Barton down to serve their jail terms.

The hearing has finished.

Derbyshire Constabulary

Barton dabbed her eyes as sentence given

Alex Homer

Reporting from Derby Crown Court

Gemma Barton was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her son.

As the Judge passed sentence, she continued to dab her eyes and nose with a tissue as she cried, looking at her feet while she sat.

The Judge Mr Justice Kerr said he had to pass a longer jail term because Barton must have known Jacob Crouch suffered “prolonged and multiple incidents of serious cruelty which she ignored”.

BreakingBarton sentenced to 10 years

Jacob Crouch's mother Gemma Barton has been given a 10 year sentence.

Barton failed to take steps to protect Jacob - judge

The judge lists some of the aggravating factors in Barton's sentencing.

He says Barton failed to take steps to protect Jacob.

He also references the violence used against Jacob, saying Barton allowed it to happen and so it must affect how long she spends in prison.

Judge tells Barton she must have become aware of the abuse

Continuing his sentencing, the judge draws a distinction between killing Jacob and allowing him to be killed - which is what Barton has been convicted of.

On the night Jacob died, Mr Justice Kerr says his mother must have become aware of the abuse Crouch was committing against Jacob.

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Judge says it's clear Barton knew her son had been injured

Referring to his "findings", the judge says it's clear that Barton knew her son, Jacob, had been injured in the lead-up to his death but failed to seek medical treatment.

He says this is something any parent would usually do