A father who murdered his four-week-old son by shaking him has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years.
Atticus Bartlett died in hospital after collapsing at his family home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022.
Tony Bartlett, 39, from Axminster, Devon, was convicted of murder following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
The jury found Bartlett violently shook Atticus, causing severe internal injuries to the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
Mr Justice Cavanagh sentenced Bartlett, formerly a postman, to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve a minimum of 18 years.
The judge told Bartlett he was “very drunk” when he carried out the fatal attack on Atticus, adding: “I have no doubt that this terrible tragedy would not have happened if you were not so heavily intoxicated.”
He said Bartlett had been feeding Atticus with a bottle and the baby was bringing up the milk.
“In your drunken state, Atticus’s inability to take the bottle as well as you thought he should enraged you,” the judge said.
“You had a sudden fit of anger. You vented that anger on your tiny baby son. You shook him very violently indeed, gripping him very tightly round his ribcage.
“This only lasted a few seconds or at most a minute or so. Just in that brief moment, you wanted to cause Atticus serious injury.
“As suddenly as you began, you stopped, your anger evaporated, and then you dozed off.”
During the trial, Charles Row KC said Bartlett had been “drunk and frustrated” when he attacked his newborn son.
Bartlett and his then-partner, Evelyn Ballentyne, Atticus’s mother, had gone to a pub and comedy club that evening.
Ms Ballentyne’s mother Rachel Donovan and her husband went to the family’s home on Darcis Row, Chard, to care for Atticus.
Over the evening, Bartlett drank 8.5 pints of lager before returning home with Ms Ballentyne.
Mr Row told the court: “Evelyn Ballentyne went upstairs for a few minutes, leaving Atticus in the defendant’s sole care.
“When she returned, Atticus was lying face down across the defendant’s lap.
“She said ‘he’s dead, he’s not breathing’. She noted that the defendant appeared to be asleep or at least his eyes were closed.
“The defendant flipped Atticus over. Atticus released two gasps and appeared to be floppy and lifeless.”
Emergency services attended the property and Atticus was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
His brain damage was so severe he did not regain consciousness or breathe for himself.
Atticus died just before midnight on July 23 2022.
Experts said the injuries suffered by Atticus were associated with “vigorous shaking”, with his rib fractures caused by “gripping and squeezing” during that attack, Mr Row told the court.
In a victim personal statement, Ms Ballentyne described how she had been left with “severe anxiety” following Atticus’s death.
“I will never know what kind of person Atticus would have become,” she said.
“I will never see him hit milestones. I will never see him go to school. I will never see him grow up and have a family of his own.”
She continued: “Who plans their baby’s funeral? Who goes to the chapel of rest?
“I had to wait 11 hours and 18 minutes for Atticus to die. It was horrendous. I was scared to go out, I was scared to stay in.
“I don’t enjoy any moments because I have a dead son. It is mentally and emotionally draining all the time. It is awful.”
Her mother, Mrs Donovan, told the court how she wondered what Atticus would look like now and what toys he would like to play with.
“I just want one more day with Atticus,” she said.
“I’m glad I had Atticus that night. He was loved and cuddled and had a lovely night with us.
“I just hope and pray he never knew what happened to him.”
Representing Bartlett, Nigel Power KC said his client had previously been a “good and caring parent” to his son.
“This is not a case where there is intention to kill or premeditation,” Mr Power said.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Bowden, from the Major Crime Investigation Team at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Tony Bartlett was alone with Atticus when he suffered these horrendous injuries and the medical evidence gathered during the investigation proves he was solely responsible for causing them, despite his claims of innocence.
“This is a devastating case in which a very young baby has lost his life as the direct result of a cruel act by a man who was supposed to provide him with the protection and care he needed.
“The loss of Atticus has had a profound effect on all those who loved him. Our thoughts are very much with Atticus’ family who’ve had to endure a lengthy and complex police investigation, followed by a trial. They’ve shown great dignity and courage throughout.
“Investigations like this are extremely harrowing and I’d like to thank all those who provided evidence and supported our investigation to establish the facts behind Atticus’ tragic death.”
