...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Unbearable Child Cruelty: Parents Jailed Over the Death of Toddler
A chilling case has unfolded as the mother of a 15-month-old baby, who disturbingly referred to her son’s injuries as the markings of a “little madman,” has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for allowing his death to occur.
Her drug-addicted partner, found guilty of the infant’s murder, was handed a 32-year jail term.
Jake Drummond, 33, an avid user of cocaine and cannabis, inflicted fatal injuries on baby Jacob Lennon on August 27, 2019.
Prior to this tragic incident, Jacob endured three weeks of abuse, which led to injuries across his body while his mother, Louise Lennon, 32, turned a blind eye.
Sinister Messages and Heartless Indifference
Just days before the killing, Drummond sent Lennon a chilling message, referring to Jacob’s bedroom as the “torture chamber.”
Lennon herself casually brushed off Jacob’s visible bruises, jestingly referring to him as a “little madman.”
The culprits faced trial and were eventually convicted – Drummond for murder and wounding Jacob with intent, and Lennon for causing or allowing the death of a child, with an additional admission of child cruelty.
Their crimes, characterized as “despicable,” led to their sentences being delivered at the Old Bailey in central London, with one police chief labeling it the “saddest case” of his 30-year-career.
A History of Violence
The long history of Drummond’s violent behavior dates back to 2005 when he threatened his own mother with a knife.
By 2008, he had assaulted an ex-girlfriend, and by December 2018, Jacob had been placed under a child protection plan due to emotional abuse.
Yet, despite these glaring red flags, Drummond’s violent trajectory was not curbed.
He was called into a police station for harassment accusations from another ex-girlfriend just a day before he shook Jacob to death.
Inquiry into the Disturbing Case
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, of Scotland Yard, shared his emotional distress over the case.
He described the case as distressing and unusual, even in his 30 years of service.
Jacob, the infant victim, endured over 20 individual injuries, including a particularly cruel one to his genitalia.
The cause of death was determined to be a significant head injury.
Jolley expressed the horrific reality that Lennon, the child’s mother, was fully aware of these severe injuries, yet failed to provide necessary medical assistance.
A Disgusting Disregard for Human Life
Despite Jacob’s palpable suffering, Drummond and Lennon continued their cruel jesting over messages, punctuated with laughter emojis.
The duo denied their involvement in Jacob’s injuries and blamed each other for the boy’s horrific condition.
On the day of the sentencing, Drummond, who never held a steady job but had two other children, was told he had an “emotionally volatile” character worsened by his drug habits.
Lennon’s claims of being coercively controlled by Drummond were dismissed, with the judge stating she prioritized her relationship over her son’s welfare.
The Failure of Social Services and the Escalating Brutality
Despite Jacob’s placement under a child protection plan, the abuse escalated. Lennon managed to evade a planned visit from social services by falsely claiming to be on vacation.
Meanwhile, Drummond had already begun his horrifying assault on Jacob, driven by his frustration over the baby sharing their bed due to his insomnia, a side effect of his cocaine addiction.
Jacob was eventually shaken and hit so severely he became unconscious.
In a desperate attempt to cover their tracks,
Lennon concocted a story that Jacob had fallen out of his cot.
Medical examination revealed Jacob’s horrific injuries, and he was pronounced dead an hour after being taken to the hospital.
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