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Two years later, father finally admits to shaking 4-week-old son to death because he was 'tired and frustrated'

Matthew Banks said he shook his son, Leo, 'quite vigorously' after the baby cried uncontrollably

CHICHESTER, WEST SUSSEX: A father has pled guilty to shaking his four-week-old son "forcefully" because he was "tired and frustrated" by his crying, eventually leading to the boy's death due to head injuries. Matthew Banks, 34, of Gilbert Road in Chichester was charged with manslaughter at At Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, August 24.

Leo Banks was two years old when he died at his home in Chichester, West Sussex, in February 2020 after receiving specialized care for head injuries he sustained as a newborn in December 2017. Banks claimed that during a feed, Leo was sobbing uncontrollably and appeared stressed, which made Banks frustrated and tired. Leo's mother discovered her child was ill when she woke up in the morning and sought medical attention. 

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Sussex police have issued a statement about the 34-year-old father pleading guilty to the charge of manslaughter. They wrote on Twitter, "A man who admitted ‘forcefully’ shaking his baby son, causing injuries which later resulted in the boy’s tragic death, has been convicted. Matthew Banks, 34, pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he appeared at court on August 22."

In the statement, it is stated that after an investigation into the death by officers from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, Banks, of Gilbert Road, Chichester, had a charge of manslaughter authorized by the CPS.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Owen Watkins, said, "This is a heartbreaking case that has resulted in the tragic and untimely death of an innocent two-year-old boy. He added, "Matthew Banks was one of the people trusted to look after and care for Leo, but instead his actions caused injuries that Leo was sadly unable to recover from." Watkins continued, "We are relieved to secure a guilty plea at court, as it means Leo’s family no longer face the additional trauma of reliving his death through a trial. Our thoughts continue to be with them all at this incredibly difficult time."

In a similar incident that occurred in 2020, a father was sentenced to eight years in prison after shaking his two-month-old daughter violently and excessively, which caused her death. 21-year-old James Ring lost his temper in frustration and manhandled his baby, Aria, causing her a fatal brain injury, reported BBC News.