A man who violently shook his partner’s toddler to death after staying up late playing video games has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 25 years.
Christopher Stockton, 38, was convicted of the murder of 22-month-old Charlie Roberts and child cruelty in December. On Friday, Teesside Crown Court handed down the life sentence, condemning Stockton’s actions as “deliberate and forceful harm” against the defenseless child.
The court heard that on January 12, 2024, Charlie’s mother, Paula Roberts, left her son in Stockton’s care at her home in Darlington while she went for an eye test. Within minutes of her departure, Stockton called 999, reporting that the toddler had gone “floppy.”
Emergency responders arrived to find Charlie unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital with severe head trauma, suffering from widespread bleeding on the brain. Despite medical efforts, the young boy died the following day.
Suspicion and Missed Warnings
Prosecutors revealed that Roberts had been wary of Stockton’s behavior. So much so that she installed a hidden camera above Charlie’s cot to monitor her partner’s interactions with the child. However, despite her concerns, she remained in a relationship with Stockton, even confiding in her brother about her suspicions.
Stockton, who had moved in with Roberts just a week earlier, was off work sick on the day of the attack. Having stayed up late playing Xbox games, prosecutors argued that he “snapped” that morning, brutally shaking or throwing the child with lethal force.
A Web of Lies
During the trial, Nicholas Lumley KC, prosecuting, detailed how Stockton inflicted the fatal injuries before calling emergency services. On the recorded 999 call, he was heard desperately urging Charlie to wake up, saying, “Come on, mate,” and “Wakey, wakey.”
However, upon questioning by paramedics, doctors, and police, Stockton fabricated a story, claiming Charlie had choked on a biscuit. He insisted he had only tried to help by patting the child on the back and attempting to remove the blockage.
Medical experts refuted this, testifying that Charlie’s injuries were consistent with violent shaking or an impact. The prosecution described the attack as an act of rage, branding Stockton’s lies a cover-up.
Justice for Charlie
Sentencing Stockton to life in prison, the judge condemned his “cowardly and cruel” actions, emphasizing the tragic loss of a young life at the hands of someone entrusted with his care.
Outside the courtroom, Paula Roberts expressed devastation over her son’s death, vowing to honor his memory. “Charlie was my world, and no sentence will ever bring him back,” she said in a statement.
Detective Inspector Emma Gill of Durham Police described the case as “deeply harrowing,” adding, “Charlie should have been safe in his own home. Stockton’s actions were unforgivable, and justice has been served.”
Stockton will serve at least 25 years before he is eligible for parole.
