Leeds sadist who inflicted 19 bone fractures upon baby girl has 'lenient' prison sentence extended by Court of Appeal

A Leeds man who inflicted 19 separate bone fractures on a baby girl before going on to attack another infant has had his 'lenient' prison sentence increased.

Court of Appeal judges today ruled that Luke Flynn must now serve 15 years over the horrific attacks on two defenceless babies.

Flynn, 27, was originally sentenced to ten years in prison in February this year after being found guilty of two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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Jurors at Leeds Crown Court heard horrific details of how Flynn, of Birch Road, Kippax, carried out the offences.

Court of Appeal judges ruled that Luke Flynn must now serve 15 years for attacks on two defenceless babies.Court of Appeal judges ruled that Luke Flynn must now serve 15 years for attacks on two defenceless babies.
Court of Appeal judges ruled that Luke Flynn must now serve 15 years for attacks on two defenceless babies.

One baby suffered 19 separate bone fractures to her body after being subjected to brutal assaults.

Flynn carried out a separate attack in which he inflicted serious injuries to an already seriously ill baby.

The offending came to light when the first victim, a baby girl, was taken to hospital with concerns over her health.

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Two full skeletal surveys were carried out over a ten-day period and the baby was found to have 19 fractures to bones in her body.

Leeds Crown Court heard there were fractures to both forearms, both lower legs as well as multiple rib fractures.

A radiologist concluded that the injuries were inflicted in separate attacks as some of the fractures were only visible on the second occasion.

Flynn went on to attack a second child after forming a friendship with her mother.

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The baby was already seriously ill due to a condition which left her with fluid on the brain and with limited movement of her arms and legs.

The jury heard the baby suffered injuries after the child's mother asked Flynn to hold her while she packed bags before taking her daughter to a paediatric appointment.

As she was getting ready, the mother heard a "scream like she had never heard before."

Flynn had been holding the baby appropriately but when the mother returned the defendant was standing on his own and the baby was on the sofa.

The mother later noticed bruising to her daughter's face.

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She was diagnosed with fractures to her forehead and to her right leg.

The court heard how the second baby had since died as a result of her pre-existing medical condition.

Flynn's sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General Michael Ellis under the unduly lenient sentence scheme

After the hearing the Solicitor General said: "The actions of the offender in deliberately attacking and targeting vulnerable children in such a brutal manner are truly sickening.

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"I hope that this increased sentence brings some comfort to the families of the victims and reassures them that justice has been done."

After the trial at Leeds Crown Court in February, Detective Inspector Kevin Daly, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Flynn assaulted and injured two defenceless infants on separate occasions.

"The circumstances of the offences clearly show a disturbing pattern of behaviour by him.

“Detailed and comprehensive enquiries by our specialist safeguarding officers built up a strong evidential picture that resulted in him being convicted of these offences."