Daniel Gunter, 27, sentenced to at least 20 years for brutally killing his premature son in Yeovil District Hospital’s special care unit.

Terrifying Attack in Hospital Nursery

Gunter inflicted catastrophic injuries on 14-day-old Brendon Staddon, including a broken neck and shattered skull, as nurses hovered just yards away.

The tiny baby, born premature at 33 weeks weighing just 1.83kg, was found fatally injured in his cot after his mother, Sophie Staddon, 21, alerted hospital staff around 4am that the baby felt cold.

Despite emergency efforts, Brendon was pronounced dead at 4:59am on March 5, 2025.

Brutal Murder Shocked Medical Staff and Family

Parents Sophie and Daniel were arrested after leaving the unit to smoke outside while medics desperately tried to save Brendon.

At Bristol Crown Court, Gunter was convicted of murder following a three-week trial. Sophie Staddon was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“Brendon was your son… He was an entirely healthy child,” Justice Swift told Gunter. “He sustained multiple injuries including fractures across his head, neck, legs and face.”

“His skull was shattered and his neck was broken. Very severe force was brought to bear.”

Callous and Calculated Attack

The judge said the killing was premeditated, with Gunter violently harming Brendon without alerting nearby nurses.

Medical experts compared the baby’s injuries to those of a fall from a multi-storey building.

Prosecutor Charles Row QC said, “There was an intention to kill demonstrated by the sheer brutality of the attack.”

David Gunter’s father Simon paid tribute, calling Brendon “tiny but perfect” and described the family’s heartbreak:

“We will never see his first crawl, his first steps or his first word. He didn’t even have a chance to give us his first smile.”

Police and NHS Respond to Tragedy

Detective Chief Inspector Nadine Partridge called the assault “utterly horrific,” adding, “There wasn’t a part of Brendon’s body left unharmed.”

A spokesperson from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust confirmed a Child Safeguarding Practice Review is underway, with findings expected later this year.

This shocking case has shaken the hospital and community, exposing the terrifying reality that even vulnerable newborns are not always safe—even in a place meant for care and healing.