Former Wirral soldier accused of harming son was ‘hyped up’ afterwards, court told

Apr 2 2009 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A FORMER soldier accused of causing grievous bodily harm to his three-week-old son was “hyped up” afterwards, a court was told.

Dean Hodkinson, 20, of Wallasey, is alleged to have used such “grossly excessive force” that the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left permanently disabled.

Giving evidence yesterday, the boy’s mother, who also cannot be named, said Hodkinson seemed to be “enjoying the police involvement” after the baby was admitted to intensive care with bleeding and damage to the brain, up to 17 fractured ribs, as well as fractures to both his collar bones and shoulders.

Under questioning by Stuart Driver, QC, prosecuting, she said: “He [Hodkinson] didn’t seem concerned about his son, who was in hospital.”