A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his newborn son on a neonatal ward at Yeovil District Hospital.

Daniel Gunter, 27, was convicted in July of killing his two-week-old baby, Brendon Staddon, who was born prematurely in February 2024. The judge described the attack as 'brutal' and told him he must serve a minimum of 18 years and 239 days.

Gunter is originally from the Street and Glastonbury area.

Brendon died after suffering catastrophic injuries at the hospital's special care baby unit on 5 March 2024. The court heard the infant had been mistreated from birth, with staff raising repeated concerns about rough handling and Gunter's behaviour towards nurses.

Jurors were told Gunter had become angry with staff and ignored medical advice, removing his son from his incubator and overstimulating him to the point of distress.

The baby's mother, Sophie Staddon, was acquitted of a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child after a murder charge against her was dropped during the trial.

Sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, the Honourable Mr Justice Swift said: "There's no sentence I could pass today which could possibly ease the family's grief. You, were responsible for your child's care and his safety. There was an extreme abandonment of duty in that case."

Speaking after the sentencing, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "In his short life Brendon Staddon was repeatedly mistreated by his father while in hospital before finally suffering a brutal and horrifying assault. His death is both shocking and heart-breaking and our thoughts are with all those who loved him.

 "Babies and young children are totally dependent on the adults around them for care and attention and are particularly vulnerable to abuse. It is vital the Child Safeguarding Practice Review identifies any ways in which Brendon could have been better protected in an effort to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future."

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