A MONSTER dad has been jailed for murdering his baby son by shaking him to death after downing eight pints of beer.
Tony Bartlett, 39, attacked four-week-old Atticus “in a moment of pure violence” after arriving home in Chard, Somerset, from a night out.
Baby Atticus was shaken to death by his dad Credit: SWNS
Tony Bartlett has been found guilty of murder Credit: SWNS
The tragic tot suffered severe internal trauma to his brain and spinal cord and died in hospital seven days later.
Bartlett has now been found jailed for murder with minimum of 18 years following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
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Jurors heard the killer dad had gone to comedy club with Atticus’ mum Evelyn Ballentyne in July 2022 for their first night out since the baby was born.
While out, Bartlett downed eight-and-a-half pints of beer before returning home where Evelyn’s parents had been looking after Atticus.
Bartlett claimed he did not attack his son Credit: SWNS
Prosecutor Charles Row KC said his “loss of temper and frustration” was “almost certainly fuelled” by the alcohol.
He added: “Mr Bartlett can’t admit to himself that when he was drunk, in a moment of pure violence, he did something that he will regret for the rest of his life.”
Evelyn told police that once her parents left, she went upstairs to take her make up off – leaving Bartlett and Atticus on the sofa.
When she returned a few minutes later, the mum heard Atticus “make two big gulps as if he was trying to breathe but couldn’t”.
Evelyn then took the baby but he had “gone all floppy” and was not breathing.
Jurors heard she started to scream, gave the baby back to Bartlett and tried to get help from the neighbours.
The mum also called emergency crews and told them there was a foamy substance and milk coming out of the baby’s nose.
She said: “My baby’s not breathing, can you please come.
“He’s not breathing, he’s four weeks old, please hurry.”
A medical expert said Atticus’ injuries were consistent with those usually sustained in “high speed traffic accidents or falling from a multi storey building”.
Paediatric neurosurgeon Amedeo Calisto found he suffered a “significant head trauma” where veins at the top of the head had been “stretched and broken”.
He told jurors that no “natural cause would have caused this” and “normal or rough handling of children” would not have resulted in Atticus’ injuries.
Evelyn was originally arrested but was not charged with any criminal offence and gave evidence at Bartlett’s trial.
The dad claimed he gave Atticus a bottle but he wouldn’t drink it.
He also said he was “rubbing and patting” Atticus and bouncing him on his knee but thought he was gassy.
Bartlett said a few moments later he released some gas and made a gulping sound “almost like it was his last breath”.
When asked by officers if he caused the injuries, he said: “I don’t think so, no. I didn’t shake him”
Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg said: “This is a devastating case in which a very young baby has lost his life as the direct result of a violent and cruel act.
“The loss of Atticus has had a profound effect on all those who loved him.
“Tony Bartlett was alone with Atticus when he suffered these catastrophic injuries and the medical evidence gathered during the investigation proves he was solely responsible for causing them, despite his claims of innocence.
“Our thoughts are very much with Atticus’s family who’ve had to endure a lengthy and complex police investigation, followed by a trial. They’ve shown great dignity and courage throughout.”
