'Angry' father admits manslaughter of baby son

A "frustrated and angry" father has admitted killing his baby son.

Six-week-old Huxley Sayle died from a traumatic head injury which left him "immediately unresponsive" and medical experts concluded he had been "violently shaken", Preston Crown Court heard.

Peter Sayle denied any wrongdoing, claiming the injuries were caused by him performing CPR on Huxley, but on the fifth day of his trial he admitted manslaughter.

The 32-year-old, previously from Fulwood in Preston, will be sentenced on Thursday.

Huxley was rushed to hospital in the early hours of 14 June 2022.

His mother called 999 from their home and told the operator that her son was not breathing.

Huxley was taken to Royal Preston Hospital unresponsive with a head injury.

He was then transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where treatment was withdrawn on 14 July 2022, Lancashire Police said.

On 17 June 2022, Sayle was arrested on suspicion of wounding.

Medical experts later concluded that Huxley had suffered several skull and brain injuries, consistent with being "violently shaken".

His father was rearrested on suspicion of murder.

A postmortem examination found the baby died from a traumatic head injury, and that no natural disease had caused his traumatic collapse, police said.

Doctor Alison Armour concluded Huxley's two rib fractures were inconsistent with having been caused by CPR, and were more likely caused by being forcefully gripped or squeezed around the chest "during an episode of vigorous shaking".

Sayle denied forcibly shaking his son.

Police examined his phone and found he had searched on the internet after Huxley's birth for "tips to deal with frustration and anger".

He had also searched "baby crying makes me angry dad", and "I'm getting so angry when baby won't sleep".

On the fifth day of the trial, Sayle, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to Huxley's manslaughter.

That plea was accepted by the prosecution.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows said: "After three and a half years of denials he has finally admitted that he is responsible for assaulting and causing baby Huxley's death.

"While this has been a particularly sensitive and challenging case, my investigation team's relentless focus has always been on achieving justice for baby Huxley."

Wendy Logan, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Huxley's life was tragically cut short by his own father.

"We put forward a strong case including expert evidence that showed the child's injuries could not have been caused by accident, which resulted in Sayle's guilty plea during the trial.

"Everyone who has been involved in this case has been deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of Huxley's death and our thoughts remain with his family."

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