Jacob Crouch's stepfather jailed for minimum 28 years for baby's murder
Warning: This page contains descriptions of a baby's death which some readers may find distressing. Find support from the BBC Action Line.
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Warning: This page contains descriptions of a baby's death which some readers may find distressing. Find support from the BBC Action Line.
Live Reporting
Edited by Jamie Whitehead and Sam Hancock
All times stated are UK
The relationship between Crouch and Barton
Craig Crouch, Jacob's stepfather, met Gemma Barton, his mother, when she was four months pregnant.
The jury on the seven-week trial heard that the pair grew “very close, very quickly" and referred to Jacob as "our little boy" after only a month together.
Jacob was born healthy on 17 February 2020, and Crouch was named as his father on the birth certificate.
We're referring to Crouch as Jacob's stepfather precisely because he is not the biological father.
Crouch - who at one point during the trial told the court he had always felt as though Jacob "was mine" - was found guilty of his murder earlier this week.
Barton was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
Barton repeatedly denied harming Jacob and, when asked by prosecutors who had caused his injuries, told the court: "It was not me, so that leaves Craig.”
Court adjourned for lunchbreak
If you're just arrived on this page, the key thing to know is that Derby Crown Court is currently on a lunchbreak.
When the session resumes shortly, the judge is due to deliver his sentencing remarks.
You'll be able to stream those live via a link at the top of this page.
Watch: Footage of Crouch and Barton being arrested
After Craig Crouch was found guilty of murdering his stepson, Derbyshire Constabulary released the footage showing his and Jacob’s mother Gemma Barton’s arrest.
The pair were first taken in by police on 5 January 2021 - six days after Jacob died.
Barton can be seen, and heard, crying as police tell her she is under arrest.
Video content
What we've heard so far
While we wait for the sentencing, here's a reminder of what we've heard in court so far:
Judge pauses sentencing hearing
The hearing has now been adjourned for lunch.
Mr Justice Kerr is expected to hand down his sentences to Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton when the hearing resumes after the lunch break.
Before the hearing adjourned, Gemma Barton could be seen staring at the floor and wiping her eyes with a tissue as family members’ victim personal statements were read to Derby Crown Court.
Craig Crouch stared straight ahead and shook his head as details of his offending were discussed.
Barton 'failed to protect her son'
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
Clive Stockwell KC for Gemma Barton tells the judge that prior to 2019 she had led "a blameless life" but everything changed when she met Craig Crouch.
It's said she was in a vulnerable state, suffering from anxiety and depression and "was effectively isolated by him”.
Clive Stockwell KC goes on to say that it was Crouch who killed Jacob not her but she did fail to protect her son on that fatal night.
"She will have to live with that for the rest of her life", he says.
Barton continues to cry, her leg is shaking, her hands clasped - Crouch is emotionless.
Judge asked to consider 'lack of premeditation'
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
Balraj Bhatia KC asks the judge to consider some mitigating factors before sentencing Craig Couch.
"Approaching 40, he faces a lengthy period in jail. Lack of premeditation, lack of intent to kill and previous good character should all be taken into account."
Mitigation begins
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
Mitigation is now underway by Balraj Bhatia KC for Craig Crouch who says submissions have been made in writing to avoid insensitivity.
"Emotions will be running high” says Bhatia.
“There isn't a single family member who hasn’t been touched by the facts of this case."
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Family member says they knew Craig Couch was a 'liar'
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
The victim statements continue to be made in court - Gemma Barton is in tears, Craig Crouch is looking straight ahead.
Speaking on behalf of the Barton family, a representative says they believe Craig Crouch was "trying overly hard to impress us and Gemma, but we knew he was a liar.”
They refer back to when it came to the naming of Jacob Crouch saying “none of us thought (it) was appropriate“ and claim that Gemma was completely under Craig Crouch's control.
There are tears in the public gallery and Barton is crying.
'None of us can sleep properly anymore'
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
Another relative is reading her statement in person.
“None of us sleep properly anymore,” she says.
“When I heard what they did I was angry.”
To Barton, she says: “I was here Gemma, I just don’t understand why you didn't ask” (for help).
Barton is looking down, sobbing. One of the jurors is now in tears.
Family member says pain will last a lifetime
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
A family member tells the court that all they have of Jacob is a photograph.
They say they will never see his first steps or hear his first words and “the pain will be with me for a lifetime, it will never ever go away.”
Speaking on behalf of the Crouch family, they say: “The past two and half years have been the hardest” and they are "all broken”.
Prosecution makes submissions
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
Mary Prior KC has begun making submissions on behalf of the Crown.
Crouch is to be sentenced for murder and child cruelty, and Barton for causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
Crouch is now 39 years old, and Barton 33 (they were 36 and 30 at the time of Jacob's death). There are no previous convictions cautions or reprimands for both.
Jacob suffered at least 39 fractures, 22 in the week he died. He would have been in “significant pain”, Prior says. He also suffered significant bruising.
He would have been in so much pain, Prior says, that in hospital they would have administered morphine.
If they had sought medical help, she adds, Jacob could have been saved. He died from infection caused by a perforated bowel.
The couple told a series of lies to try to cover it up, Prior adds.
Family members at today's sentencing
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
A group of people including family members have attended every day of the trial. They began arriving before 11:00 for today’s sentencing.
One lady was carrying a bunch of flowers. They are probably intended for court staff or police officers to whom those who have been coming to court have become close.
When the jury returned its verdicts on Wednesday, there were gasps and tears from the public gallery. One person was so overcome they had to leave court. I'd expect there to be more emotion today when Justice Tim Kerr, the judge, delivers his sentencing remarks.
It’s been a tough case for the police, too. When Det Insp Paul Bullock read his statement on the steps of the court post-verdicts, it was easy to detect the emotion in his voice; while out of view of the cameras, one of his colleagues was in tears.
We in court will soon hear victim statements from Jacob Crouch’s family members before the lunchtime adjournment, as well as submissions from prosecutor Mary Prior KC.
Also this afternoon, counsel representing Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton will give mitigation.
TV cameras now allowed in courts - but there are exceptions
This afternoon we'll hear the judge’s sentencing remarks live from Derby Crown Court.
Our live page team has streamed several sentencings this year already, but it is still a relative novelty.
A change in the law last year allowed filming inside English and Welsh courts for the first time. Scotland has been doing this for years.
Increasing public confidence in the judiciary process was one of the main motivations behind this change.
In England and Wales, only four organisations have permission to film - the BBC, ITN, Sky and PA Media - and they have to apply to the judge to film the sentencing remarks of a case.
Even then, broadcasters can only film remarks made by the most senior judges.
No-one else can be filmed. So cameras won’t be allowed to capture victims, witnesses or jurors.
Derby Crown Court fills up
Phil Mackie
Reporting from Derby Crown Court
The court is packed, the public gallery is nearly full.
Relatives of Craig Crouch and Gemma Barton are sitting separately.
Nine jurors have returned for today's sentencing.
What this case is about… in 150 words
Jacob Crouch, a 10-month-old baby, died in 2020 at home near Swadlincote, Derbyshire - during the Covid pandemic.
Jacob's mother Gemma Barton and stepfather Craig Crouch - who is listed as his father on his birth certificate - told police they had found their son unresponsive in his cot.
During the seven-week trial at Derby Crown Court, the prosecution argued that Jacob had suffered at least 39 rib fractures following a “vicious assault” in which he was “kicked or stamped on”.
Those injuries led to serious infections and Jacob died “in his cot, alone” on 30 December that year, the jury heard.
Both Crouch and Barton denied murdering Jacob, but earlier this week Crouch was found guilty of murder and Barton of causing or allowing the death of a child - she was cleared of murder.
It's now for Justice Tim Kerr, the judge, to hand down each of their sentences.
Jacob Crouch’s stepfather and mother due in court
Sam Hancock & Jamie Whitehead
Live reporters
In a short while, the stepfather and mother of Jacob Crouch will be sentenced for the 10-month-old’s death.
Craig Crouch, Jacob’s stepfather, was found guilty earlier this week of the baby’s murder. Jacob’s mother, Gemma Barton, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
Jacob died “in his cot, alone” on 30 December 2020 at home near Swadlincote, Derbyshire, having suffered a “living hell”, Derby Crown Court heard during the trial.
Crouch and Barton will both appear at the same court today, to be handed their individual sentences by a judge.
We’ll use this page to guide you through the judge’s remarks - as well as any analysis we receive afterwards.
You’ll be able to watch the sentencing live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.