Man and woman convicted after ‘monstrous act’ left baby permanently disabled

A helpless baby girl was left permanently disabled as a result of injuries inflicted by a couple just days after they brought her home from hospital, a court has been told.

Tom Kember, 27, and Katherine Reilly, 25, both from Taunton, denied the charges against them but were found guilty by unanimous jury verdict today, Wednesday, 30 October, after a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Kember was convicted of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, while Reilly was convicted of child cruelty. Judge Julian Lambert described the child’s injuries as the result of a “monstrous act”.

Kember has been remanded in custody, with Reilly granted bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for 24 January 2025.

The baby girl, born prematurely in 2019, had only been home for ten days when, on 14 January 2020, an ambulance was called to an address in Taunton as she was unresponsive.

Paramedics noted bruising on her temples and raised their concerns with staff at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The court heard that Kember and Reilly left the hospital while the baby was still undergoing treatment and began packing up her belongings.

Expert medical evidence provided by the prosecution indicated that the child’s injuries were severe – similar to those sustained in high-speed traffic accidents or falls from a one-storey height – and could not have resulted from a domestic accident.

On 12 January 2020, the jury was told, Kember had conducted online searches for terms such as “what happend aif u (sic) hit a baby’s face” and “can a baby be sick if it gets hit.”

The following day, at 10.45pm while at a fast-food restaurant with Reilly and the baby, Kember searched for terms such as “if baby hits its head does the baby sleep a lot.”

It was not until around 1.20am on January 14 that Kember contacted the NHS 111 service.

At 6.10am that morning, Kember searched online for “can I get dosent for abiseing (sic) … baby” – with the prosecution arguing this was a mistyped search for “can I get done for abusing … baby.”

The child, now four years old, has been adopted by her foster parents, who have cared for her since she was four months old and still in hospital. Due to the traumatic brain injury, she is non-verbal, has significant visual impairment, endures multiple daily seizures, and has other complex needs.

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Doxsey, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a distressing case for all involved. A helpless baby has been abused by adults more focused on avoiding the consequences of their actions than on seeking medical help for her.

“It is tragic to think that, having been born at 31 weeks, she was readmitted to hospital with these horrific injuries before her original due date.

“I would like to pay tribute to the medical staff who helped ensure this little girl’s remarkable survival, and to the family who are now providing her with such love and care.”