June 2010

Baby killer jailed for just four years

A BRUTE who shook his lover’s baby to death when he thought she was pregnant by her ex has been jailed for just four years.

Andrew Rawlings shook four-month-old Mason Tipper so hard he suffered massive brain injuries, a heart attack and a broken arm. Rawlings was living with Mason’s mum Samantha Green in Cadbury Heath but the six-week relationship became strained when she got pregnant.

Rawlings, 26, pushed her into an abortion because he thought the father was Mason’s dad Daniel Tipper. Samantha and Daniel split just before she met Rawlings.

DNA tests have since revealed the unborn child was Rawlings’. He and Samantha were served with an eviction notice from her maisonette in Bristol in July last year.

She went to seek advice about housing and left Mason alone with jobless security guard Rawlings, who became frustrated by the baby’s noisy teething.

At around 9.45am the killer called 999 and said: “There’s a red mark on his cheek and he’s gone blue.” Paramedics could not revive Mason and his life support was turned off three days later.

Rawlings denied murder but admitted manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court.

Mason’s grandmother Debra Tipper, 44, said he should have been charged with murder.

She said: “He killed that baby. He has shown no remorse or apology, he has just been impassive.”