Abusive couple who left baby with multiple fractures and pulled out her toenail are jailed

Doctors uncover injuries after mother takes 15-month-old to hospital unable to raise arm

A couple who left a baby with multiple fractures and even pulled out her toenail have been jailed for a total of 15 years.

Madison Ricketts-Devereux, 22, and her partner Craig Sayers, 32, subjected the 15-month-old child to the abuse in January 2017.

A court heard the pair left the baby with a broken arm and two fractured fingers after assaulting her at their home in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

The abuse was uncovered when Ricketts-Devereux took her daughter to hospital because she was unable to raise her arm.

An examination found she had suffered injuries including a missing toenail and several fractures.

Ricketts-Devereux and Sayers went on trial accused of causing grievous bodily harm and were found guilty at Hereford Crown Court.

Sayers, of Worcester, was jailed for nine years on Wednesday, while Ricketts-Devereux, of Ledbury, was sentenced to six years in prison.

Sentencing, Recorder Martin Jackson said: “Madison Ricketts-Devereux, you were the only person with the opportunity to cause the damage to the right arm.

“Craig Sayers, you went into the room and caused injuries to the left arm and toe. This was a vulnerable victim and there was an element of sustained assault.

“There are aggravating features as you were on bail at the time for another case of violence. You had breached trust as you had been trusted to settle the child.

“The nature of the injuries is also an aggravating factor, as was the fact that the injuries were caused at her home.

“I do not think that your previous good character is a mitigating factor. You were old enough to know better.

“Madison Ricketts-Devereux, your immaturity is a mitigating factor, however, you still caused injuries to your child.”

Christopher Millington, defending, said Sayers had gone through his early life without offending and had been a man of “good character” until he was 31 years old.

He added: “The shame of this conviction weighs heavily on him.”

Ricketts-Devereux, a mother of two, was described as “immature, damaged and vulnerable”.

Mr Millington told the court: “She suffered some very serious experiences in her childhood and this brought about some very disturbed behaviour as a young teen.

“This baby had not suffered any injuries before her relationship with Craig Sayers. What impact did their relationship have upon the mother?”