Mother hid a spycam in a hanging plant in toddler’s bedroom ‘out of concern for his safety’ months before child was shaken to death by stepfather, court hears

A toddler was murdered by his stepfather months after his mother installed a spy camera where he slept out of concern for his safety, a court heard today.

Social services also investigated after little Charlie Roberts was taken to hospital with bruises around his head, but they accepted the injuries were not accidental and took no action.

The 21-month-old boy died after he was allegedly violently shaken or thrown violently when left alone in the care of stepfather Christopher Stockton, 38, by mother-of-five Paula Roberts, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Stockton called 999 less than 20 minutes after Roberts, 41, left for an early morning optician appointment, claiming the youngster had ‘choked’ on a biscuit.

He was rushed to hospital, but could not be saved. Scans showed he had a brain haemorrhage and died from serious non-accidental head injuries, prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC said.

The jury was told Stockton had had little sleep after spending most of the night playing online games, watching TV and shopping online.

Mr Lumley said: ‘In a very short space of time, because that’s all it takes to lose your temper, isn’t it, he must have attacked Charlie by shaking or throwing him with considerable force.’

He said his actions “may have been quickly and bitterly regretted,” but “it was no coincidence.”

Toddler Charlie Roberts (pictured) was murdered by his stepfather months after his mother installed a spy camera where he slept out of concern for his safety, a court heard today

The 21-month-old boy (centre) died after allegedly being violently shaken or thrown violently when left alone in the care of stepfather Christopher Stockton (left), 38, by mother-of-five Paula Roberts (right), Teesside Crown The court was told

Roberts was in tears in the dock as the 999 call was played in court, including the ambulance service worker instructing Stockton on how to give Charlie CPR and the kiss of life.

Stockton denies murder and child neglect. Roberts denies child neglect.

Mr Lumley said Roberts only had a brief relationship with Charlie’s father.

In early 2023, Roberts, who worked at an indoor climbing centre, began a relationship with Stockton, who worked at a company in Stockton-on-Tees.

Stockton began spending time at Roberts’ home in Darlington from about Charlie’s first birthday.

Mr Lumley said staff at Charlie’s daycare center noticed bruising on his forehead in April 2023 and the following month.

Charlie was taken to Darlington Hospital at the end of May with bruising around both eyes and his forehead. Roberts told hospital staff he had fallen many times, the court heard.

Mr Lumley said: ‘Social services were holding meetings, concerned about Charlie’s welfare. At that stage the injuries were not considered to be accidental and no action was taken.”

Stockton claimed Charlie (pictured together) choked on a biscuit after calling 999

By August, the couple’s relationship had become “rocky.”

Roberts installed a “spy camera” hidden in a “hanging plant” in her bedroom, where Charlie also slept in a crib at that age, Mr Lumley said.

“She told her brother she was worried about Christopher Stockton and Charlie,” he said.

Further bruising appeared on the toddler in early January.

Three days before Charlie suffered his fatal injury, Roberts told a friend that her son had fallen out of bed and “hit his head” and may have suffered a “concussion.”

She then lied to her manager at work about being taken to the hospital and searched the Internet for information about “bruises.”

The bruises on the toddler’s ears were noticed by Roberts’ brother two days later and she claimed the boy was sleepwalking and was found sleeping in his toy box in a wardrobe.

Stockton was sleeping on the couch at the time. He spent the night before the incident on the internet and watching TV, but only got “about two or three hours of sleep”, Mr Lumley said.

Floral tributes and hugs left by mourners in memory of 21-month-old Charlie Roberts

Within minutes of leaving the house at 8.45am, Roberts called 999 and told the operator that Charlie was ‘barely breathing’ and ‘limp’, the court heard.

Stockton claimed he choked on a cookie and that during the call he could be heard saying “come on Charlie, cough it up” as paramedics rushed to the house.

They found him ‘lifeless’ on the ground and he was rushed to hospital. There was nothing blocking his airways, but scans showed ‘bleeding in and around his brain’, the court heard.

Doctors concluded the injuries were the result of “inflicted trauma” and arrested Stockton and Roberts.

An autopsy was conducted and experts consulted. Mr Lumley said Charlie’s injuries could not be explained by a ‘bump or fall’ or natural illness.

The cause of death was said to be ‘forceful shaking or turning of his head’, which caused irreparable brain damage.

Mr Lumley said Stockton should be responsible for his death as he was healthy when his mother left the house and had collapsed minutes later.

In interviews with police, Stockton repeated his story that Charlie choked on a cookie.

The prosecutor told the jury Stockton maintains he did not cause the boy’s death and denies harming or neglecting him.

Roberts is expected to claim that the scars and bruises on her son over the months were the result of “everyday” bumps and were certainly not caused by her.

The judge, Mr Justice Goss, told the jury that the prosecution did not have to prove that Stockton intended to kill Charlie. They must prove he intended to cause ‘actually serious harm’ to Stockton to plead guilty to murder.

The case continues.