A British stepfather will spend more than two decades behind bars for the death of his 1-year-old stepson. Christopher Stockton initially claimed that Charlie Roberts had choked on a cookie, but an investigation later shut that story down. After being found guilty in October, the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) sentenced the British stepfather on Friday (February 7). Prosecutors also didn’t spare the toddler’s mother, Paula Roberts, who seemingly knew her boyfriend was abusing her child.

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British Court Determines Stepfather Did THIS 

According to a CPS press release, Charlie died on January 13, 2024, when he was 22 months old. Less than 20 minutes after the toddler’s mother left their home the day before, his stepfather rang emergency services.  CPS reports that Paula was headed to work, while the Durham Constabulary, local police, said she had an optician’s appointment.

Christopher Stockton reportedly told personnel that Charlie Roberts had stopped breathing while playing in a toy tunnel in the living room. Additionally, he claimed the boy had become “lifeless and floppy” and admitted that the boy had eaten a cookie earlier. He was basically suggesting that might’ve caused the boy to choke. However, when paramedics checked Charlie, they didn’t find anything blocking his airways. Instead, they found that the 22-month-old had a “serious head injury” and transported him by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

“…despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly never regained consciousness and died the following day. Experts said that, given the severity of the injury, it must have been sustained immediately before Stockton called an ambulance and was caused by severe trauma from being shaken or thrown,” Durham police said in their statement.

It’s unclear how exactly Charlie ultimately sustained the head injury, but Stockton will spend a minimum of 25 years behind bars for the incident. A jury also found him guilty of wilful assault and child neglect.

The Detective Superintendent on the case, Chris Barker, said in October: “It was his responsibility to keep Charlie safe. He didn’t do that. He is the only person who knows exactly what happened that morning, but what we do know is his actions resulted in this little boy’s death.”

Christopher Stockton Had Violent History With His Stepson That Mother Ignored

CPS and Durham police also revealed that Stockton was violent with his stepson throughout his relationship with Paula Roberts, which started in early 2023. He met Charlie in March 2023, days after his first birthday. In the coming month, the toddler sustained multiple bruises on separate occasions.

Paula knew what was happening. She had bought and placed a spy camera in her son’s bedroom. She also told one of her family members she had concerns about Christopher. Still, the mother neglected to report Stockton any of her son’s injuries, despite having picture evidence of bruises and injuries to the 1-year-old’s body.

Police charged her with child neglect after finding more evidence that she knew and didn’t act. In text messages, she claimed she’d take her son to seek medical attention but never did. Three days before Charlie Roberts died, his mother told her boss he had been admitted to the hospital. That was a lie. The evidence indicates that most of the injuries Charlie sustained while being one were not accidents.

“To install a spy camera as Paula Roberts did, means there must have been concerns about him…If you have concerns about those caring for your children, you must act, speak out or ask for help…Charlie had everything to live for, but his life was cruelly cut short…My thoughts go out to those who truly cared about Charlie.” Detective Superintendent Barker stated in October.

Paula Roberts pleaded guilty and will spend four years in prison. After the stepfather was found guilty, the toddler’s father, Barry Greenwell, spoke out. 

“As a family we are processing the recent events and are trying to come to terms with the verdict and information given that has been deeply disturbing to ourselves.”

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