Parents in court over baby murder

At risk children 'being ignored'

The parents of a baby boy who died in hospital from a head injury are to be sentenced later over his murder.

The death of Alfie Goddard is one of seven caused by neglect or abuse which has led to an inquiry into Doncaster Council's services for children.

His father, Craig Goddard, 24, from Toll Bar near Doncaster, last month admitted the murder of his son.

Lindsay Harris, 19, admits perverting the course of justice. They will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.

The baby boy was admitted at 12 weeks old to Sheffield Children's Hospital in May 2008.

Seven deaths

A post-mortem examination revealed his death was due to a head injury.

His father appeared in court later that month charged with murder and was remanded in custody.

Last month Craig Goddard, of Marton Road, Toll Bar, pleaded guilty to the charge.

His partner, and the baby's mother, Lindsay Harris, will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

Seven children have died in the Doncaster Council area as a result of abuse or neglect since 2004.

Serious case reviews have been commissioned into each death, five of them involving children under the age of 16 months.

An Ofsted report last month was highly critical of children's services in the authority rating them as the worst in England.

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said the its children's services department would be subjected to a "thorough diagnostic review".