Mother with post-natal depression jailed for four years after shaking baby boy to death

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 12:12 EST, 20 February 2009

A mother who suffered from post-natal depression was jailed for four years today for killing her baby boy.

Joanne Mallinder, 37, of Tilbury, Essex, shook three-month-old Jack with a 'considerable amount of force', causing multiple fractures and brain damage.

He died from his injuries in hospital 13 months later.

Joanne Mallinder

Joanne Mallinder and her partner Gareth Cox arrive at Basildon Crown Court during her trial. She was jailed for four years for killing her baby boy

Judge Philip Clegg, sentencing Mallinder at St Albans Crown Court, described it as a 'desperately sad case'.

Mallinder was convicted of manslaughter in December following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, in Essex.

Post mortem tests showed Jack had suffered six fractures to his arms and legs.

'It would seem that you must have pulled the child violently from his car seat by his right arm and then gone on to shake him violently,' said Judge Clegg.

'It's also quite apparent that you immediately realised what you had done and did everything you could to help revive the child. Nobody could have been more devastated by what happened.'

The court heard Mallinder had suffered 13 miscarriages and one stillbirth in the past.

She also had a drinking problem and an eating disorder.

Mallinder and her partner, Gareth Cox, had initially intended to put Jack up for adoption but changed their mind following the birth.

'This, of course, is a desperately sad case,' said Judge Clegg.

'Nobody could've wanted baby Jack more than you and Gareth Cox. Both you and he abandoned the intention to have Jack adopted as soon as he was born, simply because you could not bear to part with him.'