In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that then 44-year-old Clare Sanders and then 45-year-old Tomas Vaitkevicius—of Streatham Road, Mitcham, South London—were found guilty following the death of their four-week-old daughter, Eva. The investigation established that baby Eva died in September 2017 after being subjected to a brutal series of assaults. The prosecution reported that Eva suffered 27 rib fractures, along with catastrophic injuries to her head and spine, consistent with being “violently shaken” on at least three separate occasions.
The investigation established that less than a week before the child’s death, Sanders had used her mobile phone to search for “shaken baby syndrome NHS” and “shaking babies.” The prosecution reported that although Eva was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting after a neighbour was alerted by Sanders’ screaming, the infant died the following day. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard that Eva was a defenceless victim who was systematically abused in the days leading up to her death in the Mitcham area.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Vaitkevicius had a history of violent behaviour, including a previous conviction for assaulting his first wife. The investigation established that despite the evidence of repeated trauma, both defendants denied responsibility for the fatal injuries. The prosecution reported that while the couple were cleared of murder during their retrial at the Old Bailey, they were convicted of the serious charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, reflecting their failure to protect Eva from the “brutal” violence within the home.
Judge-led proceedings concluded with Judge Mark Lucraft QC remanding both Sanders and Vaitkevicius into custody. For their actions in Mitcham and the “sustained and vicious” nature of the assaults reported, they were scheduled for sentencing on 27 November 2020. The judge noted that the severity of the 27 rib fractures indicated a level of force that went far beyond a single momentary loss of control, requiring the defendants to be removed from the community immediately.
Status and Statutory Requirements
Based on the judicial orders and convictions in 2020:
- Custodial Status: REMANDED IN CUSTODY (Awaiting sentencing in late 2020 following the Old Bailey conviction).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children or vulnerable adults; permanently barred from all regulated activity).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Causing or allowing the death of a child).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court); investigated by the Metropolitan Police (Homicide and Major Crime Command).
- Criminal Record: Baby suffered 27 rib fractures; Subjected to three separate assaults; Digital evidence of searches for “shaken baby syndrome” prior to death; History of domestic violence (Vaitkevicius).
- Origin: Streatham Road, Mitcham, South London.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Sanders and Vaitkevicius are managed as high-risk violent offenders under the statutory requirements of the Metropolitan Police Public Protection Unit. Due to the nature of their conduct—specifically the “repeated and fatal shaking of a four-week-old infant and the failure to seek medical intervention despite searching for symptoms”—they are a priority for monitoring. Authorities reported that the 2020 conviction was a vital outcome for justice, ensuring that individuals who allowed such extreme suffering within a domestic setting are held accountable.
The investigation established that Eva’s death was the culmination of a “brutal series of assaults” that occurred over several days. Authorities state that the digital evidence found on Sanders’ phone was a crucial factor in proving that the couple were aware of the child’s deteriorating condition. Any future attempt by either individual to reside with or have unsupervised access to children in Mitcham or elsewhere will result in immediate police intervention to ensure the safety of the public from individuals convicted of allowing the death of a defenceless baby.
QUESTION – Given that the mother searched for “shaken baby syndrome” on the NHS website days before the child died but failed to call an ambulance, do you believe that “Failure to Seek Emergency Medical Aid” in suspected abuse cases should be a standalone criminal offence carrying a mandatory life sentence?
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