Southampton couple face cruelty charges (From This is Hampshire)

Southampton couple face cruelty charges

2:11pm Wednesday 18th November 2009 in

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A COURT has today heard of a Hampshire woman's shock at seeing her baby grandchild covered in bruises.

Amanda Lock told jurors how she first noticed that the youngster appeared to have suffered "massive weight loss".

And she told of her shock at witnessing first hand the extent of the injuries on the five-month-old tot's body when he was taken for medical attention the same day.

When the baby - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was admitted to Southampton General Hospital on April 23 last year, doctors found him emaciated, covered in more than 20 bruises and with multiple fractures to his ribs.

The baby's father, Luke Lock, is accused of inflicting the horrific injuries while his partner Charmain Rippon is accused of covering up for him. The duo, who shared a house in Wavell Road, Bitterne, deny all the charges against them.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the youngster had bleeding on the brain and behind the eyes, thought to have been caused by being shaken.

Yesterday, the aunt of the baby told jurors how she watched Lock shaking him so "his head went everywhere".

Lock, 21, now of Albert Road South, faces two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a charge of child cruelty. Rippon, 23, faces two counts of child cruelty through neglect and exposing the baby to unnecessary suffering.

Proceeding