Devon father jailed for life over baby's death

Tony Bartlett, a 39-year-old from Axminster, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years after being found guilty of murdering his four-week-old son, Atticus, in July 2022 at their home in Chard, Somerset. The court heard that Atticus suffered severe brain and spinal injuries, with medical experts comparing the injuries to those seen in high-speed crashes, and that Bartlett was heavily intoxicated at the time. Bartlett had been out drinking with Atticus’s mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, and returned home after consuming about eight-and-a-half pints of beer, where Atticus was left briefly in his care before the fatal injuries occurred. Ballentyne was not charged, though she gave evidence during the trial, and the jury concluded Bartlett’s act was a result of a sudden fit of anger while intoxicated. The judge described Bartlett as intoxicated and frustrated, emphasizing that the violence occurred in a matter of seconds and led to Atticus’s collapse and death seven days later in hospital. The case has been covered by multiple outlets with consistent details, highlighting the sequence of events, the alcohol involvement, and the 18-year minimum term.