Source: Lancashire Constabulary published on this website Friday 14 June 2024 by Jill Powell
A childminder has on 13th June been jailed for killing a baby under her care in Hapton.
Baby Harlow Collinge suffered injuries consistent with being violently shaken by defendant Karen Foster at her former home in Mill Lane.
Colleagues at the North West Ambulance Service were called at 1.19pm on 1st March 2022 following a report that nine-month old Harlow was in cardiac arrest. He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where it was discovered he had a significant and non-accidental injury to his brain.
Due to the nature and severity of Harlow’s brain injury and having given a number of conflicting accounts of how this injury was sustained, Foster was arrested at that time on suspicion of Section 18 grievous bodily harm. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Harlow sadly died on 5th March 2022 surrounded by his loved ones.
A post mortem examination revealed that Harlow’s cause of death was inflicted traumatic brain injury. Foster was further arrested on suspicion of murder. Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, 62-year-old Foster was charged with Harlow’s murder.
After two years, faced with the indisputable and overwhelming evidence that she was responsible for killing Harlow, Foster pleaded guilty to his manslaughter when she appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court last week.
Foster, now of no fixed address, appeared at the same court today where Mr Justice Cotter jailed her for 12 years and seven months.
