The monster babysitter who murdered a toddler and threw him into a fireplace
15.10.2022 - 12:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A monster babysitter who sexually abused a toddler and beat him to death is expected to serve his full sentence after concerns he could be released from prison early.
Joshua Cook was 17 years old when he punched and kicked helpless one-year-old baby Charlie Johnson before hurling him into a fireplace. The assault was so horrific that Mr Justice Grigson, presiding over the case in Bradford Crown Court, said he could find 'no suitable words' to describe the actions of Cook when he sentenced him to life in prison for murder in June 2008.
The 22-month-old tot suffered horrific head injuries and severe brain damage, meaning surgeons could not save him. Cook had been spotted carrying Charlie's body down the street by a neighbour who called 999 and tried to resuscitate him, Yorkshire Live reports.
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Cook was given a life term with a minimum of 18 years in jail in 2008. But in 2018, The Sun reported Cook was being prepared for release less than 10 years into his time behind bars. It came after Charlie's parents, Georgina Fisher and Kevin Johnson, from Scarborough, received a letter from the Ministry of Justice.
The letter stated that a minimum term can be considered by the High Court once the offender has served half of their sentence - nine years in Cook's case. It said this only happened "in exceptional circumstances of progress and development made by the offender."
But Yorkshire Live understands Cook has not been considered for release. A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: "He is not eligible for release yet and has not been referred for his parole review by the Secretary of State yet."
Cook had been hired to babysit
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