A woman from Jacksdale in north Nottinghamshire has been jailed for 15 years for the manslaughter of a child in her care.
Leila Borrington assaulted Harvey Borrington, her partner’s son, whilst she was looking after him and his siblings while their father was at work in August 2021.
Harvey Borrington was found by emergency services unconscious and unresponsive and later died at King’s Mill Hospital from severe head injuries.
Leila Borrington was the only adult with Harvey when he collapsed. Instead of calling the emergency services immediately, she filmed Harvey motionless and sent the clip to his father asking what to do.
Borrington told emergency services that Harvey had fallen from the sofa immediately before he collapsed, but medical staff raised concerns about the severity of Harvey’s injuries, so an investigation into his death began.
The investigation revealed a series of incidents of violence towards Harvey, and concerns raised by family members about what was happening when he was in the care of Leila Borrington.
This culminated in an assault to his head, which caused his fatal collapse. Borrington was charged with assault and murder, with manslaughter as an alternative count.
Following a three-month trial, Borrington was found guilty of manslaughter, as well as inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was today (16 March 2023) sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Dona Parry-Jones said: “Harvey Borrington died at the hands of someone who should have been there to care for him and nurture him. The main focus of this trial was presenting evidence to prove that Leila Borrington was responsible for Harvey’s injuries and that those injuries were not caused accidentally.
“The jury decided that Leila Borrington did indeed assault Harvey and, while she did not intend to kill him or cause serious harm, her actions were the direct cause of his death. She has now been held accountable for what she did.
“This has been an incredibly difficult period for Harvey’s family. My thoughts and sympathies are with them.”
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a disturbing and upsetting case to work on and I am pleased that Borrington has now been sentenced.
“The death of any child is a tragedy, but there is something especially awful about cases of this nature.
“As a police officer I am pleased that justice has now been done, but I am aware that no custodial sentence can adequately reflect the pain and anguish felt by Harvey’s family.
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of my colleagues, remain with them today.”
An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Harvey Borrington required love and dedicated care to support his special communication needs and daily life challenges. But instead his stepmother assaulted him on several occasions – the last attack ultimately leading his tragic death.
“This terrible case highlights the vulnerability of young children and those with disabilities, who are entirely dependent on those who care for them and are at increased risk of abuse. It also underlines the vital importance of having effective safeguarding systems in place to ensure that no child falls through the gaps.
“We would urge anyone concerned for the safety or wellbeing of a child to speak out and seek support from the NSPCC Helpline, local authorities, or if a young person is in immediate danger, by phoning 999.”
