Man Sentenced to Eight-and-a-half Years in Jail After Bashing Seven-Month-Old Boy

The man who bashed seven-month-old Bobby Webber two years ago has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Andrew Nolan, 34, was sentenced on Thursday for bashing little Bobby Webber, his partner’s nephew, in September, 2014.

The boy suffered broken ribs, skull fractures and forehead wounds after he was left in Mr Nolan’s care while his parents, Elise and Barry Webber left the NSW Central Coast for their honeymoon, and his partner, who is Bobby’s maternal aunt was out for a dine-in movie.

When his partner returned five hours later, Mr Nolan told her the baby had dropped a mobile phone on his head but that it was nothing to worry about. When she checked on Bobby, he was sobbing in his sleep and limp.

More than two years later, Bobby had been quadriplegic, brain damaged and vision-impaired.

In handing down his sentence via AVL, District Court Judge Philip Ingram said the “offence involved a grave breach of trust of the victim who was especially vulnerable due to his tender age”.

The court heard that Mr Nolan initially denied to police about hurting Bobby in the days after the bashing. He told police an intruder must have entered the boy’s home while he was sleeping on the couch, but later admitted putting his foot on the child’s back and rubbing him along the carpet. He also said he hit him twice with an open hand and threw him into his cot.

However, Judge Ingram did not accept the account, given it wasn’t sworn on oath and didn’t explain the infant’s fractured ankles.

Mr Nolan pleaded guilty earlier this year to causing grievous bodily harm to the baby.

Judge Ingram has put the offence in the high category of seriousness and sentenced Mr Nolan to a maximum 12-and-a-half-years jail.

Despite this, Bobby’s parents say it’s not enough. “My son’s got life. He’ll always know what it’s like to be confined to a wheelchair or a walking frame. He doesn’t get to walk freely so neither should Andrew,” Ms Webber said.

“As far as I’m concerned he doesn’t deserve to breathe. He doesn’t deserve any of our time, any of our tears. We cry for Bobby, we don’t cry for him,” she added.

Mr Nolan will be eligible for parole in April 2023.

Sources: Kidspot.com.au