In 2018, the Offender Database confirmed that Nigel Newton, then 24, of Withernsea, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court for a “savage” attack on a toddler that left the child with life-long brain damage. Newton, who was the boyfriend of the child’s mother, shook the boy so violently that he caused bleeding on the brain and burst blood vessels in the child’s eyes. An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman later found that East Riding Council social workers had “missed opportunities” to protect the child, having failed to follow up on the family despite Newton’s known history of domestic violence.
The court heard that the toddler was found in a state of reduced consciousness and suffering from seizures before being rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary. Newton denied the attack during his trial, but a jury convicted him of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent. The judge described the incident as a “grave breach of trust” against a defenceless child. The toddler’s mother was also sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to allowing serious physical harm to a child, having ignored warnings about the threat Newton posed to her children.
Nigel Newton was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Under standard UK sentencing guidelines for a determinate sentence of this length, he is required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence (approximately 6 years and 9 months) in custody before being considered for release on license. Reports following his conviction indicated that Newton has since been the target of violence from other inmates while serving his term in the custodial system.
While this specific conviction was for physical assault (GBH with intent), Newton’s management upon release is subject to strict Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) due to the extreme level of violence used against a minor. He is subject to notification requirements regarding his residency and any contact with children. This ensures that Humberside Police and the National Probation Service maintain intensive monitoring of his whereabouts to prevent him from entering households where children are present.
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