Darlington man sentenced to life in prison for murdering his partner's baby son
Christopher Stockton was found guilty of the murder of 22 month old Charlie Roberts - and will serve at least 25 years behind bars.
Last updated 1st May 2025
A Darlington man's been given life in prison for killing his partner's baby son, meanwhile, the child's mother has also been sentenced to 4 years for child neglect.
Christopher Stockton denied murdering Charlie Roberts, but in December 2024 a jury at Teesside Crown Court unanimously agreed that the toddler died from fatal head injuries inflicted by the 38-year-old.
Charlie’s mother Paula Roberts, 41, pleaded guilty to child neglect during the trial after failing to seek medical attention for several injuries he sustained over a nine-month period.
Stockton, who was in a relationship with Roberts, was also found guilty of wilful assault and child neglect.
Stockton will serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars, he was also sentenced to 8 years for child cruelty, which will be served alongside his life sentence for murder.
Roberts was sentenced to 4 years for child neglect.
On the morning of January 12 last year, Stockton was alone in the house in Darlington with Charlie after Roberts had left for an optician’s appointment in the town centre.
Stockton said he had been suffering from pneumonia but was looking after Charlie while he played in the living room.
He called for an ambulance after he claimed the youngster was playing in a toy tunnel when he started ‘choking’ and became lifeless and floppy.
Stockton said he might have been choking on a biscuit he had been eating earlier but when paramedics attended, they didn’t find a blockage, but the youngster had a serious head injury.
Charlie was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly never regained consciousness and died the following day.
Experts said that, given the severity of the injury, it must have been sustained immediately before Stockton called an ambulance and was caused by severe trauma from being shaken or thrown.
Stockton started a relationship with Roberts, in early 2023 and met Charlie a few days after his first birthday in March that year.
In the months that followed, bruising was found on the youngster on several separate occasions.
The relationship between Stockton and Roberts, both of Darlington, became rocky in August and just weeks later Roberts bought a spy camera for Charlie’s bedroom and told a relative that she had concerns about her boyfriend.
During the investigation into Charlie’s death, detectives uncovered a series of photographs on Roberts’ phone which showed the 22-month-old with bruises and injuries to different parts of his body.
Several messages on Roberts’ phone stating she would seek medical help for her son, but then never did, also raised concerns.
She also lied to her employer that Charlie had been admitted to hospital just three days before he died but she never took him to be checked out.
Experts say most of the injuries he sustained would not have been accidental.
In a statement following the verdict, Charlie’s dad Barry Greenwell said: “Charlie was a much-loved son and grandson who has been taken away needlessly and has left the whole family with a void that will never be filled.
“As a family we are processing the recent events and are trying to come to terms with the verdict and information given that has been deeply disturbing to ourselves.”
Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, of Durham Constabulary led the investigation.
He said: “Christopher Stockton was entrusted with caring for Charlie on the morning of Friday, January 12. It was his responsibility to keep Charlie safe.
“He didn’t do that. He is the only person who knows exactly what happened that morning but what we do know is his actions resulted in this little boy’s death.
“To install a spy camera as Paula Roberts did, means there must have been concerns about him.
“If you have concerns about those caring for your children, you must act, speak out or ask for help.
“Charlie had everything to live for, but his life was cruelly cut short.
“My thoughts go out to those who truly cared about Charlie.”