Michael Davis, the father convicted of murdering his infant son, Ollie Davis, has been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison.
The tragic incident unfolded in 2017, when four-week-old Ollie was discovered unresponsive at their residence in Beaumont Leys, Leicester. The infant had sustained a broken neck alongside numerous other injuries.
In addition to Michael Davis, Ollie’s mother, Kayleigh Driver, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical injury. Driver has been sentenced to seven years behind bars.
Following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, both Davis and Driver were convicted in March.
During the trial, jurors learned of the extent of Ollie’s injuries, including 23 broken ribs, fractures to his skull, collarbone, both arms, and the joints of all his limbs. The cause of death was determined to be the delayed effects of a broken neck.
In a sentencing session held at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court, Mr. Justice Cotter handed Davis, 29, a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years. Justice Cotter remarked, “I have no doubt that during the night you became frustrated and angry, and this led to terrible violence. You assaulted him on multiple occasions. The attacks in their various forms were also brutal – in particular, the fatal neck injury.”
The judge asserted that Davis had caused all the injuries during four separate overnight incidents of violence, utilizing “at least five different mechanisms” to inflict the “terrible array of injuries.”
Regarding Driver’s involvement, the judge noted that she, too, must have heard Ollie’s cries after the assaults. “You were together in the bedroom. This must have woken you up,” Justice Cotter remarked.
In response to the sentencing, Ollie’s grandfather, Ricky Driver, expressed the profound impact the ordeal had on the family, stating, “This was our worst nightmare. How could anybody hurt a beautiful baby was beyond words.”
The conviction followed a two-month trial during which the jury heard harrowing details of Ollie’s condition when he was found lifeless in his crib on the morning of October 21, 2017. A post-mortem examination revealed a total of 40 bone fractures, sustained over various overlapping timeframes preceding his death.
Leicestershire Police confirmed that medical experts determined the fractures to be non-accidental, indicating serious physical abuse.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Mark Parish emphasized the tragic betrayal of trust, stating, “Ollie was a newborn baby who relied on his parents for everything he needed, and it was their duty to love and protect him. Instead, he was let down in the most horrendous way imaginable.”
Addressing the broader impact of the case, a report compiled by the Leicester Safeguarding Children Partnership Board in 2017 highlighted the need for improvement in child protection measures. Despite acknowledging that the abuse suffered by Ollie was not foreseeable, the review identified missed opportunities for intervention.
Leicester City Council confirmed that 16 improvements proposed following the safeguarding review had been implemented since 2017.
