*Trigger warning: This article contains details of physical abuse of a baby*

A man and woman have been convicted after a baby was severely mutilated in what judge Julian Lambert described in court as a “monstrous act”.

Tom Kember, 27, and Katherine Reilly, 25, both from Taunton, had denied the charges against them but were unanimously convicted by a jury today, Wednesday, October 30, following a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Kember was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and Reilly was found guilty of child cruelty.

Kember was taken into custody and Reilly was released on bail to await sentencing, currently scheduled for January 24, 2025.

The baby girl was born prematurely in 2019 and an ambulance was called to an address in Taunton after she became unresponsive on January 14, 2020, just 10 days after being discharged from hospital.

Ambulance staff noticed bruising on his temples and expressed their concerns to staff at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The court heard Kember and Reilly left the hospital and began packing their belongings while the baby’s treatment continued.

Expert medical evidence presented to the court by the prosecution stated that the child’s injuries were at a level previously seen in high-speed traffic collisions or falls from a floor and would not have resulted from a home accident.

The jury was told Kember had posted online posts on January 12, 2020, asking “what happens if you hit a baby in the face” and “can a baby get sick if hit?” It was said that he made a call.

At 10:45 pm the next day, Kember was at a fast food restaurant with Reilly and the baby when she searched the Internet for terms such as “if the baby hits its head, the baby sleeps a lot.”

Kember only called 111 at around 1.20 in the morning of January 14.

At 6.10am that day, Kember made a call saying “can I get a dose for abiseing (sic) babe” – the prosecution’s claim being that this was a misspelled call saying “can I be finished for abuse babe”.

The child, now four years old, was adopted by the foster family who has been hospitalized and cared for him since he was four months old. The traumatic brain injury left him with non-verbal, severe visual impairment, multiple seizures each day and other complex needs.

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Doxsey, who led the investigation, said: “This was a harrowing incident for everyone involved. A helpless baby was abused by adults who were more concerned about avoiding the consequences of their actions than seeking medical help for him.

“31. It’s tragic to think that because he was born a week ago, he was hospitalized again before his due date with these horrific injuries.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the medical staff who ensured the extraordinary survival of this little girl and to the family who showed her love and care.”