Convicted mother and stepfather forced baby to eat vomit before his tragic death

A woman and stepfather were convicted of murdering her 10-month-old baby after exposing him to a horrific campaign of abuse that included forcing him to eat his own vomit. Little Jacob

Crouch died with 39 rib fractures and 19 obvious bruises, which medical specialists determined were intentional and could not have occurred during regular activities or play. Jacob died in

his cot on December 30, 2020, at his home in Derbyshire, of peritonitis, an infection caused by a severe intestinal perforation.

Gemma Barton, 33, contested murder and child cruelty charges during the trial, but was found guilty of causing or permitting the death of a child and one extra crime of child abuse.

The court heard horrifying details of the young boy's significant injuries sustained over a six-month period.

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Prosecutors said the defendants "encouraged and applauded each other" throughout Jacob's regular attacks, which culminated in his untimely death. The judge discharged jurors from additional

service due to the gravity of the crime. Barton sobbed as the devastating facts of her son's injuries were revealed during the trial, bringing the audience to tears as well. Crouch now faces

life in prison for his horrific crimes.

Text messages between the couple revealed disturbing conversations in which they referred to the baby as the "devil," forced him to eat his own vomit, discussed bathing him in bleach, and

admitted to sending him to bed or hitting him for "crying for no reason," according to jurors' statements.

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Crouch pushed Barton to be more harsh with the youngster in June 2020, using the term "regimental," to prevent the issue from spiralling out of control, according to court testimony.

Derbyshire Constabulary published a disturbing WhatsApp voice note in which Crouch discussed the concept of hierarchy in human behaviour, saying: "There is always a hierarchy."

During the trial, the court heard testimony from forensic pathologist Dr Michael Biggs, who indicated that the virus that caused Jacob's death would have quickly shut down his body within a

few hours, if not a few days. Dr Sarah Dixon, a consultant paediatrician, also submitted her professional opinion, claiming that the perforation that caused the peritonitis was intentionally

induced and that the likely manner would have been a kick, stamp, or punch.

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Dr Dixon stressed that peritonitis signs, including as sobbing, a large abdomen, and an inability to feed, are not subtle and would have been obvious to any capable adult or carer.

During the trial, Gemma Barton, the mother, blamed her son's death on her partner Crouch. She said in Derby Crown Court that she neither caused nor observed the injuries that resulted in her

son's death.

Barton denied ever striking, kicking, or leaping on Jacob and claimed she had never witnessed Crouch injuring him at their home.

Barton claimed she panicked when Crouch told her Jacob was dead at 7 a.m. on December 30, 2020, despite the fact that her son had appeared "normal" just two hours before.

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