A County Durham mother has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the manslaughter of her seven-month-old son, Charlie Goodall, who drowned in the bath while she was distracted by her mobile phone.
Danielle Massey, 31, was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter at Teesside Crown Court after leaving her infant son unattended in the bath for an extended period in February 2022. The court heard Massey was playing games on her phone, and prosecutors alleged she ignored Charlie for up to 26 minutes, during which time he fell from a newly fitted bath seat and drowned.
Incident Details
Massey initially claimed she had left Charlie “briefly” to fetch a towel but later admitted to her gross negligence. The court, however, rejected her version of events, with Mr Justice Goss concluding that Massey had given “various changing, inconsistent and implausible accounts” to downplay her culpability.
The judge said Massey had not properly prepared for Charlie’s bath and had prioritised her own activities, including gaming on her phone. Despite Massey’s claims that she was exhausted and briefly closed her eyes, the court ruled she was “active and awake” during the period her son was left unattended.
Emergency Response
Massey discovered Charlie unresponsive in the bath and attempted CPR before paramedics arrived. He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle but tragically could not be saved.
On the day of the incident, Massey was also found in possession of cannabis, which she admitted using at night while Charlie was asleep.
Legal Proceedings
During the trial, Massey contested the basis of her guilty plea, arguing that her negligence was limited to using an “unsuitable” bath seat rather than playing games on her phone. However, prosecutors presented evidence that her phone had been active for 26 minutes during the time Charlie was left alone.
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, stated: “The defendant left her child unattended for a long period so that he fell out of his unsafe bath seat and drowned, which would not have happened if he had been properly supervised.”
Statements from the Family
Charlie’s father, William Goodall, described the devastating moment he arrived at Massey’s home to find paramedics trying to save his son.
Massey admitted responsibility for her son’s death during the investigation, telling a police officer: “It’s all my fault. I killed my baby.”
Sentencing
In sentencing Massey, Mr Justice Goss emphasised the seriousness of her gross negligence, which led to the preventable death of her child. He highlighted her failure to supervise Charlie adequately and her attempts to obscure the truth about her actions.
A Tragic Loss
The case has left a lasting impact on those involved. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski described the incident as “devastating, heart-breaking, and incredibly traumatic.” He commended the bravery of the family during the investigation and extended gratitude to the emergency responders and investigators.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and responsibility when caring for young children.
