Mother and her partner convicted after trial at Old Bailey
Jacob Lennon. Picture: Met Police
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March 17, 2023
A jury at the Old Bailey has returned guilty verdicts against the two people accused of being responsible for the death of a 15-month-old boy in Roehampton.
Jake Drummond, aged 33 of Tunworth Crescent, Roehampton, was convicted of murder and wounding with intent after it was determined that he had consistently physically abused Jacob Lennon over a sustained period and that he caused the injuries that led to his death.
Jacob’s mother, 32-year-old Louise Lennon, was found guilty of child cruelty and causing or allowing Jacob's death.
Jacob was found by emergency services in the flat where he lived in Woking Close in Roehampton on 27 August 2019 after being called by his mother. He had severe bruising to his face and body and was unresponsive. He was taken to St. George’s Hospital but died shortly afterward.
A post-mortem examination found traumatic brain injuries, some of which were from a period of days or weeks earlier. The cause of death was a fatal brain injury inflicted some three to five hours before Jacob’s death. In addition to this, there were 20 further marks of recent injury on Jacob’s head, face and neck, 11 to his arms, seven to his legs and seven to his body.
Jake Drummond accused of shaking Jacob to death. Picture: Facebook
Texts shared earlier between Drummond and Lennon showed that they had made jokes about Jacob’s treatment and his injuries in which they talked about a torture room and made references to him looking like a panda because of the bruises.
Other injuries received included cuts to his genitals. Lennon told police officers that Drummond claimed to her that these injuries had been caused by another child using a toy plastic knife. Lennon told police officers that Drummond claimed to her that these injuries had been caused by another child using a toy plastic knife. Traces of cocaine were also found in Jacob's bloodstream. Former caretaker Drummond was an habitual drug user with a history of violence.
Lousie Lennon. Picture: Met Police
Jacob was on a child protection register since December 2018 and social workers had tried to visit him in the week before his death but were told in a text by his mother that they were away on the south coast.
Around that time a friend of hers had visited and been shocked by Jacob’s condition but his mother assured her that he had fallen out of bed and been taken to hospital for a check.
When questioned about her son’s injuries Lennon had claimed they were due to accidents or had been caused by other children.
Lennon had claimed she had been afraid to confront Drummond over his treatment of Jacob and that he had been responsible for all the injuries, refusing to let her take her son to hospital and making her lie to social services.
The judge at the trial, Mr Justice Sweeney granted her bail.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said, “No one who has listened to the catalogue of injuries inflicted on Jacob Lennon can be anything but horrified. It is hard to comprehend how such a young and vulnerable baby could have been so abused. Drummond and Lennon sought to cover up their guilt by blaming accidents or feigning ignorance of how he was injured. However, a jury saw through their attempts to avoid the blame and found them both accountable for Jacob’s death.
“This case was very distressing and I would like to thank my team and all those who supported the prosecution for their professionalism and diligence. Everyone concerned has had to listen to some truly harrowing evidence, but we were determined to persevere and bring those responsible for Jacob’s death to justice.”
The pair are due to be sentenced on 24 April.
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