Gareth Stark was caught on camera slapping the back of his baby's head in KFC
A dad 'violently shook' his three-month-old baby to death because he 'would not stop crying'. Gareth Stark was caught on camera when he 'deliberately' slapped the back of young Leon Stark's head while in KFC in Stafford.
Just three days later, the poor baby was left with multiple brain, eye and spinal injuries during a moment of 'forceful' shaking, BirminghamLive reports. The 38-year-old dialled 999 but lied, claiming he had put Leon down in his crib and found him 'unresponsive' with a red rash on his body 30 minutes later. Leon was rushed to hospital but sadly died a week later.
Stark, of Masefield Drive, Stafford, was today jailed for nine years for manslaughter and battery. Sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Farrer KC said the assault in KFC was 'not a forceful blow' and that Stark did not 'intend to cause Leon injury'. But he said Stark inflicted a 'traumatic shaking injury' on his baby just days later and 'acted in gross breach of trust'.
He said Leon was 'extremely vulnerable' because of his age, adding: "You obviously knew that and it should have been obvious to you that forcefully shaking him was highly likely to cause, at least, serious harm.
" Stark admitted battery on October 9, 2023, and manslaughter on October 20, 2023, both on a basis - he said he 'recklessly assaulted' Leon in KFC and three days later, was unable to stop him from crying so 'momentarily shook him in frustration'. The court heard how mum Laura Willey had a 'medically uneventful pregnancy' before Leon was born via caesarean section in July 2023.
The baby was in 'good condition', in 'good health' and was making 'steady developmental progress' before his death. Stark and Ms Willey were with their son at KFC when the dad 'deliberately struck' the tot to the back of his head with an open hand while holding him on October 9, 2023. Leon was left 'visibly upset', prosecutor Lisa Hancox said.
Footage from KFC, which was played to the court, captured Stark assaulting his child while Ms Willey's back was turned. On October 12, Stark caused fatal injuries to Leon during an 'episode of violent shaking' at the family's home in Stafford. The dad - who had been alone with Leon - called the emergency services just before 3.10pm, the court heard.
Leon was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital before he was transferred to an intensive care unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital. It later became clear that the baby's injuries were 'unsurvivable' and he died on October 20. Experts suspected Leon had suffered 'abusive head trauma', with a medical cause of death later given as traumatic head injury. Force used by Stark would have been 'clearly recognisable' as 'excessive', Ms Hancox said.
The dad must have 'appreciated' that shaking his son was 'likely to result in harm', she added. Justin Jarmola, defending, pointed to a 'momentary shake of Leon', adding: "He shall never forgive himself.
"This guilt shall be with him forever. " He said Stark has a 'long history of mental illness' and is susceptible to difficulties managing any 'frustration, angry and agitation'. The court heard how Stark was handed a six-month conditional discharge for criminal damage in 2023. Mr Jarmola added: "There was a lack of premeditation.
He does otherwise, in effect, have positive good character.
" Judge Farrer acknowledged Stark has anxiety and bipolar disorder but said he was 'medicated and not symptomatic' at the time he caused Leon's fatal injuries.
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