Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
Thanks for trying the 'beta' version of our new website. It's a work in progress, we'll be adding new services over the next few weeks, so please take a look and tell us what you think.
A mother and father have been found guilty of causing the death of their five-month-old daughter who died in 2020.
After a five-week trial at Stafford Crown Court, Rebecca Grocott, 27, of Stone, and Joshua Collard, 30, of Stafford, were found guilty of cause/allow the death of a child, cause/allow serious physical harm to a child and two counts of assault/ill-treat/neglect/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.
Grocott and Collard had denied all of the charges at an earlier hearing.
Paramedics were called to the family home in Stone on 27 February 2020. They then called us with reports that a five-month-old baby girl was in cardiac arrest. When we arrived, paramedics were treating the baby in an ambulance and she was taken to hospital. Tragically, Ava Mae died on 1 March 2020.
Grocott and Collard could not explain what had happened and following initial enquiries were arrested on 25 March 2020.
A post mortem found multiple fractures to the baby's ribs, collar bone and femur. She had also suffered severe trauma to the side of her head, causing injury to her ear.
DC Emily Hanlon, of the force’s Child Protection and Exploitation Team, said “This was a truly tragic case in which the five-month-old baby girl died as a result of the actions of two people who should have protected her.
“I would like to thank all of those involved in securing justice.
“Our thoughts continue to remain with everyone affected by the baby's death.”
Grocott and Collard were remanded into custody and are due to be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on 27 July.