Ernest Oakley, aged 32, of Swanton Road, Norwich, has been sentenced to a total of six years and two months’ imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court after injuring his 26-day-old newborn child during a drunken assault, alongside sentencing for a separate major electrical cable theft.
The incident occurred in November 2023 when Oakley brought the 26-day-old infant to the emergency department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Medical staff discovered an abnormal, elevated swollen area on the right-hand side of the baby’s skull. Due to the severity of the injury, the infant was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for specialist paediatric observation and treatment.
Specialist medical professionals at Addenbrooke’s Hospital assessed the injury as inconsistent with the explanation provided and referred the case to Norfolk Constabulary and child safeguarding services. Oakley initially attempted to deflect blame by claiming that another young child had accidentally kicked the baby in the head whilst on a sofa.
Oakley was arrested on 29 November 2023. Despite extensive police interviews, he continued to deny criminal responsibility until a formal trial date was scheduled, at which point he entered a guilty plea to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH). He formally accepted that while intoxicated, he lashed out in temper towards another individual who was holding the baby, recklessly striking his 26-day-old son on the head during the altercation.
Appearing before Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on 30 September, Judge Katharine Moore condemned Oakley’s conduct, highlighting that while the blow was not deliberately targeted at the child, it constituted reckless and violent behaviour that caused injury to a completely defenceless newborn.
Judge Moore sentenced Oakley to 14 months’ imprisonment for the assault on the infant.
In addition, Oakley received a consecutive five-year prison term for his involvement in a separate serious offence concerning the theft of commercial electrical cables. The aggregate sentence imposed across both indictments totals six years and two months in custody.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Register Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.