Couple who left child with brain injury are jailed

A COUPLE who left a child with a brain injury have been jailed for a total of more than 20 years.

- By David Huntley

Craig Neill, 26, and Amy Cave, 21, left a child with horrifically painful injuries, which a court heard were likely the result of "sadistic behaviour and significant force".

Emergency services were called to a house in the Branksome area of Darlington on May 26, following reports of an unresponsive child.

The child was found to have extensive bruising across their body, including the head and neck, as well as burns to the hand, a fractured jaw and both wrists were broken in three places.

The child was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed a fractured skull and significant brain injury, requiring a section of skull to be temporarily removed to ease the swelling.

Cave and her new partner, Neill, were arrested in connection with the incident but denied being responsible for the child's injuries.