'You can trust me': Obsessive boyfriend sent his lover chilling texts before killing her baby

A grieving mother broke down in a flood of tears today as a jury convicted her former boyfriend of killing her six-week-old son.

Michael John Pearce was home alone babysitting Alfie Rhys Sullock last year when paramedics were called to his address in Nelson, Caerphilly, south Wales.

The 33-year-old was looking after Alfie for the child's mother Donna Sullock, who went for her first night out since giving birth.

Half an hour into her night, she texted Pearce to check her son was alright. Pearce replied with a picture of Alfie to reassure her there was nothing to worry about.

A trial at Newport Crown Court heard it was the first time divorcee Pearce had been left alone with the baby. Alfie died after suffering head and abdominal injuries.

 

Motorcycle mechanic Pearce was today cleared by a jury of Alfie's murder, but convicted of manslaughter.

During the trial, the defendant's counsel had queried whether Ms Sullock may have accidentally hurt her son while getting ready and whether Alfie's bruising was caused by medics trying to revive him. Those two claims were both disputed in court by Alfie's mother and paramedics.

Pearce, who had drunk five pints of beer that evening, said he had 'no idea' how Alfie was injured. He said he raised the alarm after returning from the toilet and noticing Alfie had stopped breathing. 

As the jury delivered its majority verdict, Ms Sullock broke down in tears.

The former holiday rep, who had clutched her son's teddy while attending every single day of her former boyfriend's trial, later said: 'We are disappointed at today’s verdict but satisfied he will still go to prison for what he has done.

'Whatever sentence he gets will never be long enough for taking Alfie's life away. We have been through a year of hell.

'Thanks to everyone for their support-friends, family, the community, people who don’t know me have given me and my family amazing support. Rest In Peace Alfie.'