Man jailed for fracturing toddler's skull in Burnley
The judge said Eddleston had shown a chilling lack of empathy towards his victim throughout the trial
A man who assaulted a young toddler in Burnley and left him with a fractured skull has been jailed.
Grant Eddleston attacked the boy with such force that a doctor described the trauma as equivalent to falling from a height of three metres.
Eddleston, aged 35, carried out the violent assault in 2019 when the child was almost three years old.
The victim has since made a good recovery after treatment.
Eddleston had denied causing the injury to the youngster but was found guilty of Section 18 wounding and child cruelty following a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this year.
Eddleston, of Wesham Hall Close, Wesham, appeared before the same court on Wednesday (7th May) where he was sentenced to a total of ten years imprisonment.
He received an extended licence of three years.
He was described in a pre-sentence report as a high risk to young children.
The judge said Eddleston had shown a chilling lack of empathy towards his victim throughout the trial.
Det Sgt Julia Graham, of our East division, said:
“Grant Eddleston carried out a violent assault on a young boy causing him a serious, life-threatening head injury and then compounded his actions by trying to cover up what he had done. He has never accepted responsibility for his actions and has continually lied in a bid to protect himself.
“I welcome the sentence which reflects the gravity of the offending, and I am pleased that this little boy has made a good recovery after being subjected to such a traumatic ordeal.”