Tony Bartlett, a 39-year-old father from Axminster, Devon, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years for the murder of his four-week-old son, Atticus Bartlett. The tragic incident occurred at their home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022.
Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, the jury found that Bartlett violently shook Atticus, inflicting catastrophic internal injuries to the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Atticus was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital and later transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, but his condition never improved. He passed away just before midnight on July 23, 2022.
Judge Cavanagh, who presided over the case, highlighted that Bartlett was heavily intoxicated at the time of the assault. He explained that Bartlett’s frustration during a feeding session triggered a violent outburst. “In your drunken state, Atticus’s inability to take the bottle as well as you thought he should enraged you,” the judge said. Bartlett gripped and shook the infant violently, causing severe injuries in a brief but brutal attack.
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The court heard that Bartlett and Atticus’s mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, had spent the evening at a pub and comedy club, during which Bartlett consumed 8.5 pints of lager. When they returned home, and Evelyn briefly left the room, Bartlett was left alone with Atticus. Upon her return, she found the baby limp and unresponsive.
The devastating case deeply affected the family. In a victim personal statement, Evelyn expressed the immense emotional toll and anxiety she continues to endure. “I will never see him hit milestones or grow up,” she said. Evelyn’s mother, Rachel Donovan, also shared her grief, longing for just one more day with Atticus.
Throughout the proceedings, Bartlett’s defense counsel acknowledged that he had previously been a loving parent but emphasized there was no premeditation or intention to kill. Nevertheless, Tony Bartlett is now serving a life sentence for the tragic death of his son.