Court shown videos of Jessica Linscott's son cowering after her boyfriend's abuse

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Jessica Linscott testified against Roland Dow who is charged with beating and burning child
Linscott, who is in prison on child endangerment charges, claimed Dow often punished her three-year-old
Couple fled to Florida after leaving the child at a hospital in 2012

By Jessica Jerreat and Associated Press Reporter

Published: 21:21 EST, 12 June 2014 | Updated: 06:13 EST, 13 June 2014

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The mother of a toddler who suffered a brain injury and burns cried in court on Thursday as a Massachusetts court was shown videos of her son cowering and being yelled at.

The footage was taken in November 2012 just before Jessica Linscott and her boyfriend Roland Dow left her son at a hospital and fled to Florida.

The 25-year-old, who is already in prison for child endangerment charges and witness tampering, testified against Dow who is on trial for allegedly beating and burning her son.

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Emotional: Jessica Linscott cried in court on Thursday as she testified that Roland Dow struck her son in the head when he had a seizure

Trial: Roland Dow, pictured in court Thursday, is accused of severely beating and burning his girlfriend's son

She told the court she witnessed Dow strike her son in the head when he had seizures, and admitted that she didn't comfort her son.

Linscott claimed in court that Dow physically and mentally abused her, and treated her son 'worse than a dog you don't want'.

'I allowed a lot of things to happen that I shouldn't have let happen. I was being a horrific parent,' she said.

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'I was neglecting my son's needs. I was putting Roland first and letting him take control of every situation.'

The mother claimed her boyfriend hated her child, and punished him at the slightest provocation.

If her son soiled his clothes, Dow would make him go in the shower to rinse off, holding him down and spraying him with water. Sometimes, the frantic toddler fell in the tub and got hurt as he struggled, she said.

'No matter what my son was doing, he was doing it wrong [in Dow's eyes],' she said. 'My son couldn't color the right way, he couldn't eat the right way, he couldn't talk the right way.'

Threat: Linscott, who is serving a sentence for child endangerment, says her boyfriend had physically abused her and her child

Abuse: The three-year-old boy was treated in hospital for burns and a brain injury

On the run: Dow and Linscott were arrested at a Florida theme park two weeks after leaving Linscott's son at a hospital and fleeing

Linscott said she let Dow abuse and terrify James in part because she feared he would do something even worse if she left him.

Linscott, who is serving a two and a half to seven-year prison sentence, told the court she had filmed her son so she could show doctors his behavior.

She claimed she believed he was having 'autistic fits' on purpose, and worried there was something seriously wrong with him.

In one video, which was filmed just a few days before her son was taken to hospital, he is seen stumbling and complaining that he had a 'tummy ache'.

Later, he was seen in the video cowering in a bathtub while being yelled at to stop having seizures.

In other videos, the three-year-old appeared stiff and unresponsive as he was sat on the toilet, or put in the bathtub.

Coached: In one video, not pictured, the child was filmed as Dow taught him what to say to social workers

Witness: Linscott testified against her boyfriend Dow, who is facing charges of assaulting her son

Arrest: The couple were arrested and charged over the alleged abuse suffered by Linscott's young son

The jury was also shown a video of the couple preparing James for a social worker's visit in 2012.

The video, which Linscott said Dow shot from under a couch, doesn't clearly show the couple or the boy, but their voices could be heard.

Dow is heard asking James, 'Do you like being here?', 'Anybody ever spank you?', and 'Ever go in the shower when you're really bad?'.

The little boy can be heard answering softly, 'yeah,' 'no' and 'no.'

When he was asked: 'If someone said I hit you, are they lying?' Dow answered himself with a stern 'Yes'.

Dow then could be heard saying to the boy: 'Hey, give me a hug. We're best friends, right?'

The couple fled to Florida after leaving the toddler at a hospital in November 2012. They were arrested at a theme park two weeks later.

During their absence, Linscott's son had been treated for a brain injury and burns on his wrist and fingers.

The boy was 'beaten to the point where he almost lost his life,' according to Massachusetts Live, which saw a court motion filed by Rockingham County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Conway.

The child, who is now five years old, is now being cared for by Linscott's mother. His father had died of a drug overdose before the alleged abuse began.

Denial: Dow, pictured at his arraignment in 2012, has pleaded not guilty to the abuse charges

Tears: Linscott wiped her eyes after breaking down during her arraignment in 2012

Dow's defense attorneys claimed in court that Linscott has a history of falsely accusing others when she felt threatened.

She testified that she lied to doctors and police before fleeing to Florida, but told the truth when a detective questioned her about the black eye Dow gave her while they were on the run.

Linscott said she was afraid to take her son and leave Dow because he had hit her, ripped out her hair, repeatedly choked her and once threw her down the stairs.

Although she did leave for three days when he threatened to slit her throat, she said she returned after he said he would kill himself.

Dow has denied all charges being brought against him.

New Hampshire trial begins in case of 3-year-old boy allegedly beaten, burned by mother's boyfriend

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Sockz, Colorado US Used to be in UK, United States, 21 hours ago

There are no words fit for the anger i feel on this story.

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NunyaBusiness, NorCal, United States, 23 hours ago

Florida.

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Santi, New York, United States, 23 hours ago

I never, EVER understood why some women would allow such horrible things to happen to their children just to keep a man. It just boggles my mind.

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Peter, VOTE FOR CHANGE VOTE UKIP, United Kingdom, 1 day ago

For once I'm lost for words

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DJ, Los Angeles, United States, 1 day ago

Some people should not have children.

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Holly Wills, Gloucestershire, 1 day ago

What the hell is wrong with people?? I mean seriously. People just don't care about anything anymore. They way people take lives of others or mistreat their own blood haunts me! What is the world coming to?