In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 29-year-old Joshua Morris—of Old Colwyn, Conwy—was jailed for three-and-a-half years for shaking a 10-month-old girl and causing life-changing brain injuries. Morris appeared at Mold Crown Court where he was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH). It was reported that the investigation established Morris suffered an “explosive loss of temper” in January 2018 when the infant woke him by crying after he had only recently gone to bed.
The investigation established that Morris grabbed the baby from her cot and shook her with such violence that she was left critically ill. The prosecution reported that the injuries were “as serious as can be imagined” and that the child would have died without immediate medical intervention. Mold Crown Court heard that following the assault, Morris attempted to evade responsibility by lying to emergency service operators and attending paramedics about how the injuries occurred.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Morris had a longstanding drug habit, which may have contributed to his volatile emotional state. The investigation established that while the jury convicted him of GBH, he was cleared of the more serious charge of acting with specific intent. The prosecution reported that Judge Rhys Rowlands noted that had the “intent” count been proven, the sentence would likely have been double the length of the three-and-a-half-year term actually imposed.
Judge-led proceedings at Mold Crown Court concluded with the judge stating he could see “no signs of genuine remorse” from Morris. For his actions in Conwy and the permanent damage inflicted on a defenceless infant, he was identified as a significant risk to vulnerable persons. The judge noted that the victim has been left with a permanent, life-altering brain injury as a direct consequence of Morris’s “violent and uncontrolled” reaction to a crying child.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in North Wales and Conwy, the status of Joshua Morris as of April 9, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED ON LICENCE (Sentenced to 3 years 6 months in 2020; served custodial term; currently under supervision).
- Earliest Release Date: Circa 2021/2022 (Subject to standard half-sentence release protocols).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children or vulnerable adults).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Grievous Bodily Harm).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Mold Crown Court; investigated by North Wales Police.
- Criminal Record: Shook a 10-month-old baby; Caused life-changing brain damage; Lied to paramedics to cover up the crime; Longstanding history of drug use.
- Origin: Old Colwyn, Conwy, North Wales.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Morris is managed as a high-risk violent offender within the Conwy area. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “explosive loss of temper toward a minor” and his “history of substance misuse”—his management is a priority for the North Wales Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his lack of remorse and initial deception of medical staff identifies him as an individual who requires the most intensive tier of statutory supervision to ensure he is never again in a position of care over a child.
As a convicted violent offender, the 35-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his lifetime barring from working with children is a vital safeguard to prevent any further instances of “temper-driven violence” in a domestic or professional setting. Any change of residence in Conwy or elsewhere, or any attempt to access regulated activity with children, will result in immediate intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who demonstrated a catastrophic and “violent intent” when faced with the needs of an infant.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was cleared of “intent” but caused a “life-changing brain injury,” do you believe that the sentencing guidelines for Section 20 GBH should be automatically elevated to match Section 18 when the victim is a vulnerable infant?
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