Ruby Spink
Social Services
monitoring Ruby at the time of her death.
Norfolk
Social Services
9 July 2008
BBC Regional News
Youth guilty in baby murder case
A teenager who killed a baby when he spun her around and slammed her head
against a wall had been banned from seeing her, it has emerged.
The youth, now 17, was found guilty at Norwich Crown Court of murdering
11-month-old Ruby Spink.
He had been barred from visiting Ruby, who was placed on the child protection
register days before her death.
Ruby, who lived with her mother Laura Spink, 18, at a hostel in Great Yarmouth,
died in September 2007.
Spink admitted cruelty and the judge said her care was "inadequate".
The boyfriend, not named because of his age, and Spink will be sentenced on 28
August.
The jury of eight women and four men took five hours of deliberation to reach
their verdict.
Ruby Spink was being cared for by her mother at a hostel for women in Great
Yarmouth
They heard that Spink left her room at the hostel for a time and when she
returned the baby was "lifeless and floppy".
The youth, who was 16 at the time, said initially the baby had choked on a piece
of cake but later changed his account to spinning her round.
It emerged that the baby had been put on a register for vulnerable children and
been treated for broken ribs and fractures to her legs. The youth had been
banned from visiting Spink and her baby because of because of concerns about his
behaviour.
Lisa Christensen, director of children's services at Norfolk County Council,
said: said: "I would like to express my sorrow at Ruby's death. She was a
vulnerable baby born to a young mother.
'Ruby monitored'
"We, along with several other agencies, were working with Ruby's family at the
time of her death.
"An independent review into Ruby's death was commissioned by the Local
Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and has been approved.
"However, this report cannot be released until the legal process is complete."
She said Ruby was referred to Children's Services in July 2007.
"Qualified social workers began to closely monitor Ruby's welfare as soon as her
case was referred to us.
"Over the course of several weeks, Ruby was taken to a GP, a paediatrician and
an orthopaedic surgeon. All of these professionals diagnosed her injuries as
accidental."
At a multi-agency conference six days before Ruby's death "the decision was
taken to place her on the Child Protection Register".
"Ruby's mother did not stick to the child protection plan that was agreed at the
conference and her boyfriend went on to murder Ruby when he was left alone with
her," said Ms Christensen.
BBC Regional News
