Can’t get over poor baby Preston

[Doximama2]

Not sure this is an AIBU, I never post on here but just feel I want to today. I am a 59 year old nana of 3 gourgous grandchildren including a one year old boy, the whole story in the need the last few weeks and especially this week about poor baby Preston that was tortured, abused and ultimately murdered by his 2 adoptive “fathers” has completely traumatized me. I am recovering from a big surgery 2 weeks ago so feeling emotional but this has really upset me so much that this was able to happen and that no one, not any social services, medics on visits to the hospital - one even with a broken elbow ffs - friends and family of these monsters realised what was happening and that Preston wasn’t a happy one year old. My grandson is always happy and smiling unless he is poorly so how did this go unnoticed? I had to turn the news off Monday when they showed this poor baby trying to sleep and this monster kept making him wake up.

im not naive, I have worked in public service including health and social services which I think is why I can’t comprehend how this was allowed to happen. It just feels like there is so many awful things in the world, and has made me so sad. 😭

I hear the criminal put on a pantomime performance of tears when he was pretending little baby Preston had died in the bath. He is toast. Even on the Bacon wing as its known, there are other sex offenders who will regard him as beyond the pale. Those are the ones who did Huntley and Watkins in.

There's a picture where he looks like my DS with that lovely curly hair. I wish I could do the same.

Most people want to care for and protect babies because they're vulnerable. This pair are reprehensible for doing the opposite.

I like how the police officer said they hadn't found any evidence that they wanted to adopt a baby to abuse, but that he was sure people would draw their own conclusions. I certainly have, although I think I've watched too much Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

I wonder how the people who investigated the case are coping? And the people on the jury? I wouldn't have lasted very long. Bad enough reading about what they put him through let alone seeing all the evidence. I especially wonder about whoever did the autopsy. I know pathologists have to deal with a lot of death, but I'm sure cases like this must be difficult.

I agree it would need to be debated - I certainly don’t have the answer or all of the information, but it seems this and several other murders of very young children that come to mind could have been prevented if there were an obligation to do a fuller examination. And I mean examination in its broadest sense. That may mean lifting or removing clothing but certainly not all at once (as has been my own experience of being examined), and it might also mean X rays or other imaging. I get why it’s not common practice, but it seems worth exploring as common practice has (for valid reasons and without blaming anyone) resulted in missed opportunities.

Lots of reasons to be cautious about the treatment of vulnerable children but it’s a balance, and could save their lives.

I’d be interested in the views of people who survived child abuse on what interventions there could have been.

I don’t think I’d be keen on my child being checked for bruising all over their body, because they came in with an accidental injury.

His fracture was not accidental though, it wasn't from a trip or fall, it was from his adoptive parent handling him .. they know that because he told them that it happened as he put him down in his cot he "accidentally" twisted his arm.

No matter what he originally presented to hospital with, he had three sets of injuries in 6 weeks, two sets of bruising and a fracture. Bruising and fractures are the most common signs of physical child abuse.

I absolutely don't agree that children with accidental injuries should be stripped or examined any further than they are, BUT healthcare professionals should be well aware of the signs of potential child abuse, and in THOSE cases where there are multiple "suspicious" injuries in a vulnerable child, no benefit of the doubt should be given, social services should have paused adoption proceedings at that point, removed the child back to foster care until a medical assessment can be made, and the adoptive parents properly interviewed before a decision made about their suitability.

Even if all the injuries WERE all accidental, the fact that he had all that means they couldn't adequately keep him safe, and were not good candidates to be adopting a baby.

I wonder how the poor prison officers will cope trying to keep this POS safe from the other prisoners? They are already stretched to their limits and not given the resources they need. They have an impossible task. After the last 2 high profile deaths they don't want another one.

When any child is taken to hospital with an injury the treating paediatrician will ask for an account of what caused the injury. If the explanation doesn’t tally up with the presenting injuries the hospital will notify Children’s Services which would lead to an investigation by both police and social workers. As part of the investigation further examinations, x-rays and interviews would take place and expert reports requested.

It’s my understanding that with Preston the paediatrician was satisfied with the explanation given by the prospective adopters.

Given that these men were the prospective adoptive "parents", there should have been a far more rigorous standard of checks applied than usual.

How much are they separated?

They were probably misled by the smooth middle class veneer.

Who said they will try ( very hard)?

Well, I imagine prison officers don't really want prisoners killing each other. Doesn't exactly make for a safe working environment for them to be in if prisoners are able to do such things.

They didn't seem to be that bothered about protecting the last 2 pedos..

They have a duty to protect everyone. They are monitored constantly by cctv. Having said that, with the best of efforts if someone is determined to do something they will.

They will try as a spotlight is shined on them if they don't. The whole prison is turned upside down, subject to an audit and investigations. It's also bad for the optics of the prison and leads the prison open to leftist activists and human rights lawyers looking for damages. Personnel might lose their jobs. Apart from that, these people are in state custody without their consent and the duty of the state is to protect them. Speaking as someone formerly employed in that sector.

That's why the idea of men incarcerated with women is intolerable. You are already exposing incarcerated females who have been detained against their will by the State to additional danger in the case of male bodied men. But these women are often poor and don't have powerful advocates.

Not to mention that after a prison killing, the prison is put in special measures which means the general prison population will be repressed, confined to cells etc. Plus there is also the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners to think of. So all of you saying he should be taken out, just think before you type.

I'll think, but maybe not in the same way you are thinking. You ok with that?

I see you are right. It’s extraordinary that the three injuries were not noted as suspicious at all by at least someone who saw him.

it seems the police snd social services were reassured by hospital safeguarding. Baby Preston was seen by a health visitor, a social worker, an independent social worker (who noted specifically she had these injuries in mind during the visit) and none of them at all had any concerns.

OP, I don’t know many details because I stopped reading when this was first highlighted a couple of days ago. It’s on my mind all the time. I cannot comprehend the depravity of men, cause it’s 99% always men. Poor, poor baby and my thoughts go out to the foster family who will be tormented that the little boy they looked after was taken from them and handed to a monster. It’s unfathomable, shocking and heartbreaking.

Throughout the investigation, until their arrests in June 2025, the couple continued their relationship, living together at a detached house in Grimsargh, near Preston, which they were buying at the time Preston died.

WTF?
So they lived like nothing ever happened for nearly two years after Preston was killed???

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/twisted-instagram-ready-life-one-34126090?int_source=nba

Yes do think. Because there are prison officers with livelihoods and Guardianista type journalists sharpening their pens accusing prison officers of brutality.

Why do you need prisoners to carry out society’s dirty work?

I think killing someone leaves an indelible mark on your soul. Why don’t you become a prisoner and do the job yourself?

It's not just prisoners who are subject to violence but prison officers. A colleague had his jaw broken by an inmate. Nobody should be advocating violence in a prison.

Not necessarily saying he should be killed but I wouldn't mind if he gets a little taster of what he inflicted on that poor baby...

It's not like there's a mechanism to actually arrange it - it's fine to express that if it happens anyway, we'd be glad.