Killer dad who snapped baby’s neck after leaving him with catalogue of horror injuries is jailed for life
A KILLER dad who snapped his five-week-old son's neck in a horrific campaign of abuse has been jailed for life.
Ollie Davis also suffered fractures to his skull, collar bone, both arms and the joints of all his limbs.
His dad Michael Davis, 29, has today been jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years after being convicted of murder.
Mum Kayleigh Driver, 31, was cleared of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.
The 31-year-old, who was also found guilty of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical injury, was jailed for seven years.
Mr Justice Cotter said Davis had caused all the injuries during four separate overnight "episodes" of violence.
Read more news
He added: "At least five different mechanisms were required to cause this terrible array of injuries.
"Michael Davis, I have no doubt that during the night you became frustrated and angry and this led to terrible violence.
"You assaulted him on multiple occasions. The attacks in their various forms were also brutal - in particular the fatal neck injury."
Leicester Crown Court heard how the parents claimed they found Ollie lifeless in his crib on October 21, 2017.
He was rushed to hospital but sadly couldn't be saved and was declared dead from the "delayed effects of a broken neck".
He seemed fine when he was sleeping. He wasn't acting any differently.
Killer dad Davis
Medics also found the baby had 37 fractures in total - including 23 rib fractures - and bleeding on the brain.
The court was told these were inflicted over various overlapping time-frames of up to ten days before death.
Ollie's neck injury caused his spinal cord to compress - leading the baby to stop breathing.
Jonas Hankin KC said he was subjected to serious physical abuse "most likely to have taken place during the last 10 days of his life".
The prosecutor added: "The nature of these injuries is such that multiple mechanisms were required to cause them.
"Severe compressive force is required to cause the rib fractures.
"These injuries and the events that caused them could not have taken place in a single episode of violence."
Both Davis and Driver claimed they noticed no signs of injury in the baby, who would have been in agony.
In haunting footage released by police, the dad could be seen spinning a web of lies as he attempted to cover his tracks.
He repeatedly insisted he could not account for his son's injuries - claiming he had appeared "peaceful" in his cot.
We have been left with such a void in our hearts. Ollie, life has never been the same.
Ollie's devastated family
Speaking about the neck fracture, the killer said: "We will see how it's happened.
"He seemed fine when he was sleeping. He wasn't acting any differently."
The court was told Davis prioritised playing games such as Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto and Assassin's Creed on his PlayStation 4 over looking after his son.
He would be in charge of the baby through the night but became "frustrated" whenever Ollie cried.
The parents were charged four years after Ollie's death following a lengthy police investigation into his injuries.
Ollie's wider family said: "Ollie, you came into our world on 21 September 2017. You melted our hearts with those big blue eyes. Our little ray of sunshine.
"We have been left with such a void in our hearts. Ollie, life has never been the same.
"You will always be with us our sweet boy. Until we meet again our little one.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Catch all the love and kisses we send up to you.
"Your loving broken-hearted family."
