Acott was sentenced to five years in jail

Wayne Darren Acott sentenced to five years in prison

A MAN has been jailed for five years today after being found guilty of killing his four-month-old son.

Wayne Darren Acott, 22, of Sunningdale Court, Square Hill Road, Maidstone, was charged with manslaughter after his son Mackenzie died from trauma to his head last year.

Doctors said his injuries were so severe they were as if the baby had been in a high speed car accident.

The court heard how Acott returned home in the early hours of January 21 after playing computer games at a neighbour’s flat and fell asleep on the sofa.

A few hours later his partner woke him up and asked him to feed Mackenzie whilst she dropped her daughter off at school.

Just as she returned, Acott called her mobile in a panic, saying that the baby had collapsed and he didn’t know what to do.

The baby’s mother ran to her flat and saw Acott holding Mackenzie in his arms. She rang an ambulance and was told to perform CPR, as the baby had stopped breathing.

Mackenzie was rushed to Maidstone hospital fighting for his life and was immediately referred to the special baby care unit at Kings College Hospital in London.

He remained on life support until January 28 when he died having never regained consciousness.

A post mortem examination revealed that Mackenzie was subject to a significant traumatic event such as an impact to his head or a shaking injury.

Following an investigation by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, Acott was charged with manslaughter on August 9 and pleaded not guilty on October 28.

The trial started on July 9 at Maidstone Crown Court and the jury returned their guilty verdict today (July 26).

Detective inspector Trevor Fleming from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “It is very sad when such a young life is ended by a parent. It is the case that many parents feel the strain of the early months of a new baby, unfortunately it would appear this young man had a momentary lapse of control, he had before that be described as a loving father. A number of agencies are available to help new parents and they should not be afraid to ask for help.”