'Defenceless' baby attacked and suffocated in cot as horrified mum watched on baby monitor
Shane Heighway was seen on a baby monitor viciously attacking an eight-month-old baby, with one police detective describing it as 'one of the most horrendous things' he has ever seen
A "innocent and defenceless' baby was violently attacked by a man as they slept in their cot, with the "sickening attack" witnessed by the infant's mother on a baby monitor.
Shane Heighway was filmed entering the room of the eight-month-old baby before assaulting them and covering their face with his hands in August 2024. The 38-year-old's despicable actions were filmed on a baby monitor, which alerted the child's mother who then immediately called the police.
Heighway, of Porth-y-Waen in Oswestry, Shropshire was arrested by response officers and later charged with child cruelty and intentional suffocation. He pleaded guilty to the offences and on Thursday was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for the violent and unprovoked assault on the infant.
Medical evidence outlined in the case stated it was purely good fortune that the baby was not killed. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Daniel Bushell, from Shropshire’s protecting vulnerable people team, described the attack as "horrendous".
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"The viciousness of this unprovoked assault on an innocent and defenceless baby cannot be understated. This investigation has had an impact on all those who have been involved and those who have had to watch the awful footage of this attack.
"I will be forever grateful that Heighway’s young victim escaped serious physical harm and through the efforts of the team, further harm has been prevented. I would like to extend my appreciation to all involved who helped deal with this incident, including the response officers who quickly apprehended Heighway, as well as my colleagues in PVP who contributed to bringing him to justice. I would ask anyone who read the details of this case to remember that behind every case number, beyond every headline and beyond the initial anger that this case provokes, is a real story involving real people, who have suffered greatly.”
Heighway was seen on the baby monitor entering the room when the infant was babbling, reported local media. The attacker grabbed the baby's leg and dangled them upside down, footage played in court showed.
The attacker then slammed the baby back into the cot with force then covered the baby's face with his hands.
DC Bushell added: “I hope today’s sentence goes someway to helping everybody move forward after this awful event.
“I am pleased Heighway has received a custodial sentence today, meaning a dangerous man has been put behind bars. The message this case sends to any who would harm the most vulnerable is clear – your actions will not go unnoticed, and the police will not hesitate to act.
“We will continue to stand unwavering in the defence of those who cannot defend themselves and you will face the full weight of the law.”