A babysitter who admitted shaking and killing a nine-month-old baby she was supposed to care for has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
Karen Foster, 62, left Harlow Collinge with insurmountable brain injuries after his mother Gemma Collinge dropped him off at home, the court heard.
Harlow was taken to hospital from his address in Hapton, near Burnley, Lancashire, on March 1, 2022, but died four days later.
After the sentencing, his family said they had lost their son “in the most horrible circumstances.”
Also read: Hospital in Brazil used cake container as oxygen mask to save baby’s life
Foster was due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court for his murder last week, but prosecutors accepted a plea to manslaughter.
The basis of his statement was that his “strong shake” caused Harlow’s death after he fell from his high chair and began crying, the court heard.
Foster, a registered nanny with nine years’ experience, called 999 to say she was not breathing and told a paramedic she had “suddenly collapsed”.
After Harlow was taken away by ambulance, Foster hugged his mother at the hospital and claimed that the boy had begun to choke and that she had patted him on the back.
But he later tried to blame Collinge for the injuries.
Harlow died days later in his parents’ arms after suffering massive brain injuries.
‘Horrible, fake individual’
Foster, despite claiming ill-health benefits, had been breaking Ofsted rules on the number and ages of children she should have been looking after, to earn more money from parents, the court heard.
Harlow’s relatives shouted “trash” and “I hate you” as Foster was led from the dock after being sentenced by High Court judge Mr Justice Barry Cotter.
The judge described Harlow as a “happy, healthy and well-loved” child but said that Foster, despite her poor health and pain in her hip, decided to continue caring for more children than she should have under the rules of Ofsted, and this had contributed to his “loss of temper”.
You may be interested in: British teenager lost a lung after vaping for a week
“I have no doubt that you collapsed that day, in part, due to the fact that you were not coping with the demands of caring for four children,” the judge told local media.
“You lost your temper and he was on the receiving end.
“You shook a 10-month-old child so violently that you caused devastating injuries. His death occurred during an attack.”
In a statement, Harlow’s family said: “We don’t know where to begin to explain what it is like to lose our son in the most horrible circumstances.
“Our son’s life was taken by a horrible, fake individual who we trusted and who promised to take care of him.
“There are no words that can describe how it has ruined our lives.”
“Unimaginable loss”
Harlow’s mother, father Allen Frangleton, older siblings and the family at large sat in the public gallery, crying as Foster’s case was heard and her victim impact statements were read.
Ms Collinge spoke of the “guilt” she felt at having arranged to move Harlow to a nursery six weeks after using Foster as a nanny for the first time, due to her own concerns about the number of children being cared for.
“All the red flags I missed,” she continued before remembering that Foster tried to console her at the hospital, claiming Harlow had choked on pasta.
In other news: Chaos, arrests and violence amid debate of key Milei reforms in Argentina
And he added: “He even put his arms around me. I can’t think of anything more evil. It’s despicable. I blame myself every day for my son’s death. This monster, Karen Foster, deserves nothing. I hope her actions haunt her.”
Detective Superintendent Allen Davies, of Lancashire Police, said: “The evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Foster was solely responsible for the unlawful murder of Harlow, meaning Foster finally admitted her guilt last week.
“My thoughts remain with Harlow’s family, who have conducted themselves with dignity in facing such an unimaginable and unexpected loss,” the detective added.
