A mother has spoken of the heartbreak she endured after her former partner shook their four-week-old baby son so hard, he was left with injuries that eventually led to his death.
Just weeks before Christmas in 2017, Hannah Hawdon, 31, from Chichester, found her newborn son, Leo, grey and mottled – but her partner Matthew Banks, 34, initially denied hurting the youngster.
Leo was rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis, but a CT scan showed he’d suffered a severe tear on the brain and bleeding behind his eyes.
For weeks, Banks pleaded his innocence until finally admitting to Hannah that he’d shaken their son. Tragically, Leo died from his injuries just over two years later.
Banks was charged with manslaughter and jailed for three years and eight months last October, which was later increased to five years and four months by the Court of Appeal.
Now, Hannah is speaking out to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The stay-at-home mum says: ‘If only Matthew had called on me that night, instead of hurting Leo.
‘His actions killed my boy. And it could’ve been avoided if he’d told me he was struggling. I’ll never forgive him.’
Hannah met Banks through a mutual friend when she was 21. In January 2016 they had a baby girl, Isabella, now seven.
According to Hannah, first-time dad Banks was a hands-on father, changing nappies and helping her care for their children.
A year later, in November 2017, they had a little boy, Leo. But this time, Banks was withdrawn.
Hannah remembers: ‘Instead of bonding with Leo, he preferred playing on his Xbox than helping me with childcare.’
Then, on 18th December 2017, when Leo was four weeks old, they went to see Santa as a family and did some Christmas shopping.
Back at the home the couple shared, Hannah put Isabella to bed before taking Leo upstairs for a final feed.
As she laid him in the Moses basket, he started to whine. Hannah says: ‘Matthew came in the room and said he’d take him as I had a cold and needed rest.
‘I didn’t think anything of it and appreciated the help.’
However, it was a moment that would change her life forever. The following morning Hannah woke up and found Leo in Bank’s arms on the sofa.
She remembers: ‘He told me he’d had a bad night trying to settle him.
‘When I picked up Leo, he squealed in pain. He looked mottled and grey.’
Panicking, Hannah called 111 and rushed Leo to St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester. There, doctors suspected he had meningitis.
But an emergency CT scan revealed Leo had suffered a tear on his brain and bleeding behind the eyes. For five hours he was having seizures.
Meanwhile, Hannah quizzed Banks about the night before, but he denied anything had happened.
Social services and the police were called and Hannah was told she couldn’t be alone with Isabella or Leo.
The following week, doctors then warned Hannah they were going to switch off Leo’s ventilator on Boxing Day to see if he could breathe on his own.
He survived, but was left severely disabled.
Two weeks later, Hannah confronted Banks again and asked him if he’d shaken their son.
She recalls: ‘Matthew finally admitted it and I felt sick to my stomach. I rang the police and gave a statement.’
On New Years’ Eve 2018, Leo had surgery to fit a feeding tube in his stomach. But he suffered a seizure that left him blind.
Hannah says: ‘Doctors said that Leo would eventually die from his injuries. I knew 2019 was my last year with him. It was heartbreaking.’
On 26th February 2020, Leo slipped away at home in Hannah’s arms. Soon after, Banks was charged with manslaughter.
In October 2022, he received three years and eight months in prison at Winchester Crown Court for killing his son.
Hannah says: ‘I was disgusted and appealed.’
Earlier this year, in February, Banks’ sentenced was increased to five years and four months at the Court of Appeal.
Hannah says: ‘It’s still not enough for him stealing our son’s life away in a moment of frustration.
‘My Leo suffered so much in his short life all because Matthew snapped that night.
‘I want others who maybe struggling to seek help before they end up hurting or killing an innocent child.’
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
