A Devon father has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his four-week-old son, Atticus Bartlett. The infant died following a violent shaking incident at their home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022.
Tony Bartlett, 39, originally from Axminster, was convicted at Bristol Crown Court after a jury concluded he inflicted severe internal injuries to Atticus’s brain and spinal cord through forceful shaking. Mr Justice Cavanagh described Bartlett as “very drunk” at the time of the attack, which he said was a tragic consequence of heavy intoxication.
The judge detailed how Bartlett became enraged when Atticus struggled to feed from a bottle, leading him to grip and violently shake his tiny son. The violent episode lasted only seconds to a minute, after which Bartlett’s anger subsided and he fell asleep. Bartlett, formerly employed as a postman, showed no prior intention to harm, yet the court found him fully responsible for the fatal injuries.
READ MORE: Lando Norris Criticizes Current F1 Rules, Says Long-Time Fans Must ‘Hate’ Them
READ MORE: New Local Shops Approved for Taunton’s Growing Cotford St. Luke Neighbourhood
During the trial, it was revealed that Bartlett had consumed 8.5 pints of lager earlier that evening before returning home with Atticus’s mother, Evelyn Ballentyne. While Evelyn briefly left Atticus in Bartlett’s care, she returned to find the baby unresponsive and Bartlett seemingly asleep. Emergency services rushed Atticus to hospital, but his brain damage was catastrophic, and he passed away on July 23, 2022, without regaining consciousness.
Medical experts testified that Atticus’s injuries were consistent with vigorous shaking and the rib fractures resulted from aggressive gripping. The devastating loss has left Atticus’s mother battling severe anxiety, grieving the milestones and future she will never share with her child.
In her victim impact statement, Evelyn expressed the profound emotional toll the tragedy has taken, describing the heartache of preparing for Atticus’s funeral and the lasting sense of fear and despair. Atticus’s maternal grandmother also spoke of the lasting pain and her wish for just one more day with the baby.
Defence counsel Nigel Power KC acknowledged Bartlett had previously been a caring father and stated there was no intention to kill or planning involved, emphasizing the role of intoxication in the tragic outcome.