Petition against Sentance of Baby Masons Killer

A FORMER security guard at a Bristol shopping centre has been sentenced to four years in prison for shaking to death a baby boy.

Andrew Rawlings, who used to work for The Mall Bristol, formerly known as The Galleries, violently shook to death four-month- old Mason Tipper, causing massive brain injuries, a heart attack and breaking his arm.

The 26-year-old, of Whiteway Road, Speedwell, then tried to accuse someone else of jumping on the infant, before being confronted with a united front of experts who agreed the injuries bore the classic hallmarks of baby shaking.

Rawlings denied murder but admitted manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court.

But as he started his jail term Mason's grandmother Debra Tipper, 44, of Burley Grove, Downend, said she believed he should have been prosecuted for murder.

She said: "He killed that baby. He has shown no remorse or apology, he has just been so impassive.

"I can't put what I think about him into words other than to say he was calculating and devious."

Rawlings shook him, fatally injuring him on July 28 last year. His family took the agonising decision to turn off his life support machine three days later.

Andrew Langdon QC, prosecuting, told the court how Mason lived with the baby's mother Samantha Green at a housing association maisonette in Newton Road, Cadbury Heath. He said Samantha had separated from partner Daniel Tipper at the beginning of June last year, before starting a relationship with Rawlings which was to last just six weeks.

He told how Rawlings had been out of work for several weeks, having been a security guard, and the pair were then threatened with eviction on July 28.

He told the court: "Samantha Green was recently pregnant. There had been a scan on July 8, and the scan was interpreted by the hospital with the suggestion that the father was not the defendant, but Samantha Green's previous partner Daniel Tipper."

Mr Langdon said text messages showed Rawlings' wish for the child to be terminated, but Ms Green had said no.

The court heard another pressure on the household was Mason's teething, with evidence that it could take half an hour to calm him down.

By July 28 the couple felt their relationship was over, and Rawlings had packed his belongings into bin bags, but he stayed on at the maisonette.

When Ms Green went out to address their housing situation, Rawlings was left behind with Mason.

Mr Langdon said at 9.45am Rawlings sent Ms Green a text about a red mark on Mason's face.

Rawlings then dialled 999, telling the emergency operator: "There's a red mark on his cheek and he's gone blue."

The court heard police and paramedics raced to the scene and found Rawlings rambling that he "shouldn't have done it".

He then shouted at someone present, saying: "You shouldn't have done it".

Rawlings maintained Mason was jumped on by someone else present until indicating his change of stance last week, experts having agreed that the baby's injuries clashed with his account.

Mr Langdon said Samantha Green and Daniel Tipper were left devastated, blaming themselves for not being there to protect their boy.

Paul Dunkels, defending, said his client pleaded guilty, was under the stresses of unemployment, impending eviction, the suggestion regarding the father of Ms Green's unborn child, and Mason's teething.

He said the pressures mounted until his client lost his self control and, in a flash of temper, gripped and shook Mason.

Having lied about Mason being jumped on, he then felt compelled to stick with it.

The Honourable Mrs Justice Cox DBE told Rawlings: "You lost your temper and you shook Mason hard, a young and helpless baby at a time when young children most need care.

"You turned your anger on him that morning when you were in a position of trust towards him. He lost his life as a result."

Mason's grandmother, a residential carer, told the Evening Post: "I had Mason the Saturday before and you couldn't have asked for a happier, cuddlier baby.

"As long as he was getting his Calpol and Bonjela, he was fine.

"They said he (Rawlings) was stressed about eviction, but he could have gone back to his mother's.

"Daniel and Samantha are blaming themselves. All we can say is it's not their fault, they are not guilty of anything."

Mason's auntie Sarah Smith, 38, an accountant of Holly Hill Road, Kingswood, said: "Mason was beautiful. He was perfect, with bright blue eyes and proper baby chubby cheeks.

"It really has devastated the entire family, but it has brought us all closer.

"This sort of thing never happens around here. We spent weeks walking around in a daze, unable to comprehend what happened.

"Words can't describe the vile taste that man leaves in my mouth. We will never forgive him."