Karen Foster has been jailed for the killing of nine-month-old Harlow Collinge (Picture: PA)
Childminder Karen Foster has been jailed for 12 years and seven months for the manslaughter of a nine-month-old boy who was in her care.
Foster, 63, was looking after nine-month-old Harlow Collinge at her home in Hapton, Lancashire, in March 2022 when the boy fell from his chair.
When he started crying, she picked him up and violently shook the boy so hard he ended up dying from his injuries.
Following the incident, Harlow was taken to Royal Blackburn hospital and spent four days in intnsive care before he died with his parents by his side.
Harlow Collingedied in hospital with his parents by his side (Picture: Lancs Police)
A CT scan of the infant’s head showed significant injuries to the brain, with bleeding and swelling on both sides.
A post-mortem examination listed the cause of death as inflicted traumatic brain injury.
Foster initally told emergency services the boy had collapsed after having ‘something like a fit’, but later changed her story and said he started choking in her arms.
She later confessed to killing him after being arrested and charged with murder.
Following the sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Harlow’s mum Gemma said she had ‘no forgiveness’ for the childminder and that she ‘hates that I took my baby to her,’ Lancs Live reports.
The grieving mum told the court: ‘Harlow was enjoying his little life. He had everything he needed, his love of us all was clear to see. He loved to sing with his sisters and laughing. I was enjoying being a new mum again.
‘He made us all love life being with him. Our little bubble was all taken away in a split second.
Foster intially claimed he had suffered a fit, before later admitting to killing him (Picture: Lancs Live/MEN Media)
‘The moment I got a call saying Harlow had choked changed everything. I knew something was not right with this woman. My instincts were right, I took steps to change where he attended but he never got that chance.
‘No matter how much my feelings told me this wasn’t right, I never thought this would happen. I questioned myself if I was being over protected but reassured myself she was registered by Ofsted. Other parents took their children there, so it was me.
I can still picture the room in Blackburn where we all sat, and the nerve of Karen Foster who could see the pain on our faces and continued to lie. She even put her arms around me, knowing what she had done.
I can’t think of anything more despicable.’
She added: ‘When Harlow died part of me died. I trust no-one. Some days I just cry. I try to forget the pain but its a vicious never-ending circle. Every day I am emotional and wonder if I can make it better but I can’t.
‘This monster deserves nothing. She has committed the worst crime in the world. She had every opportunity over the last two years but it is too late.
‘There is no forgiveness. I hate that I took my baby to her. She knew how much parents trusted her and allowed her the privilege of looking after precious little children.’
Karen Foster broke Ofstedrules on the amount of children she was allowed to mind for financial gain (Picture: Lancs police)
Foster, despite claiming benefits for ill health, was a registered childminder who had been breaking Ofsted rules on the numbers and ages of children she should be caring for, to make more money from parents, the court heard.
Relatives of the baby shouted, ‘Scumbag bitch! I hate you!’ as Foster was led away from the dock after being sentenced by Mr Justice Barry Cotter.
Anna Whyte KC, prosecuting, said: ‘Harlow’s death was caused by an unlawful act which carries a high risk of serious injury which should have been obvious as an experienced childminder.
‘The offences are aggravated by the breach of trust placed in Foster as a childminder, and Harlow’s vulnerability due to his age.
‘There has been no remorse demostrated at all. During mitigation it was clear Foster was exploring the possibility of blaming Harlow’s injuries on his parents, particularly his mum.
‘The week before her trial, her defence was not that Harlow had not been shaken but that the injuries were caused by another, unknown individual.’
Passing sentence, the judge described Harlow as a ‘happy, healthy, much-loved’ boy, but said that Foster, despite ill health and pain in her hip, chose to carry on looking after more children than she should have under Ofsted rules, and this contributed to her ‘loss of temper’.
He said: ‘You should have been a safe pair of hands to which Gemma Collinge could ensure her precious child.
‘I have no doubt you snapped on the 1st of March 2022, in part due to the fact that you were not coping with the demands of caring for four children. You lost your temper and he was on the receiving end.
‘You shook an (almost) 10-month-old child so violently to cause devastating injuries. His death was caused in the course of an assault.’
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