In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Robin Bearman, 28, was jailed for two years and two months for causing life-threatening injuries to his three-week-old daughter. On appearing at Exeter Crown Court, the defendant—a trainee teacher of St Brannocks Road, Ilfracombe, Devon—admitted to inflicting grievous bodily harm. It was reported that Bearman shook the infant violently and slammed her head against a kitchen counter twice during what he described as a “flash of frustration” while giving her a 6 am feed.
The investigation established that the assault caused two skull fractures and a serious bleed on the brain, requiring intensive care at Bristol Children’s Hospital. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that Bearman then engaged in an elaborate series of lies for seven months to “save his skin,” causing his wife, Lucy, to fall under suspicion. The prosecution reported that as a result of Bearman’s deceit, the injured baby and an older daughter were removed from their mother’s custody for over half a year, causing immense emotional trauma to the family.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Bearman only admitted the truth after three specialists testified in Family Court that his “accidental” accounts were medically impossible. Exeter Crown Court heard that the victim continues to suffer from a mis-shaped skull and delays in speech and hearing targets. The investigation established that Bearman’s lies delayed proper medical assessment of the injuries, directly putting the infant’s life at further risk.
Judge Timothy Rose praised the courage of Bearman’s ex-wife, who read a moving statement describing the “nightmare” of being investigated for her husband’s crimes. For his actions in North Devon, Bearman was cleared of intent but jailed for the lesser offence of inflicting GBH. The judge noted that Bearman had a positive duty to protect his uniquely vulnerable daughter and branded his subsequent months of lying as an “enormity of violence” against both the child and her mother.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Robin Bearman is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 2 years and 2 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Restraining Order: 5 years (Banning contact with ex-wife and children).
- Professional Status: Career as a teacher terminated following arrest.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court following a Devon and Cornwall Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH).
- Incident Location: Meadowbrook, Barnstaple, Devon.
- Origin: St Brannocks Road, Ilfracombe, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bearman is managed as a high-risk violent offender within the Devon area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Barnstaple, which involved extreme violence against a defenceless three-week-old and a calculated campaign of deception, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that the five-year restraining order is a critical safeguard to prevent further psychological or physical harm to his former partner and children, who suffered prolonged separation due to his actions.
As a convicted violent offender, Bearman’s details are logged on national criminal databases. Authorities state that his history of “inexplicable frustration” leading to life-changing injuries in North Devon requires permanent vigilance should he seek employment in any sensitive sector. Any attempt to breach his restraining order or contact his victims will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the family and to uphold the court’s protection mandates.
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