Childminder, 63, who ‘forcefully’ shook nine-month-old baby to death out of ‘frustration’ when he cried after falling out of his high chair is jailed for more than 12 years

A childminder who ‘violently’ shook a nine-month-old baby to death out of ‘frustration’ after he fell out of his highchair and started crying has been jailed for more than twelve years for manslaughter.

Karen Foster, 63, was jailed for 12 years and seven months at Preston Crown Court over the death of Harlow Collinge, who was in her care.

Harlow, who was nine and a half months old, died in March 2022 after head injuries at her bungalow in Hapton, Lancashire.

Foster, from Burnley, Lancashire, admitted manslaughter at a hearing last week, claiming Harlow ‘fell out of his chair’ causing him to ‘hit his head’ and that she then ‘shook him in frustration’ because he was crying.

But the registered childminder, who had nine years’ experience, had initially tried to blame Harlow’s mother Gemma for his injuries, the court heard.

Harlow Collinge died in March 2022 after head injuries at his childminder’s bungalow in Hapton, Lancashire

Childminder Karen Foster, 63, has been jailed for 12 years and seven months at Preston Crown Court

After paramedics were called and Harlow drove away in the ambulance, Foster hugged his mother at the hospital and claimed the boy began choking and she hit him on the back.

Harlow, who was injured on March 1, 2022, died days later in his parents’ arms after suffering serious brain injuries.

Foster, despite claiming ill health benefits, was a registered childminder who had broken Ofsted rules on the number and ages of children she should care for in order to make more money from the parents, the court heard .

The baby’s relatives shouted: ‘Scumbag b****! I hate you!’ as Foster was led away from the dock after being sentenced by Mr Justice Barry Cotter.

When asked by the judge at last week’s hearing whether the defense accepted that it was “the forceful shaking of Harlow that caused his death”, her lawyer, Michelle Colborne KC, replied: “Your Honor, yes.”

Baby Harlow died from insurmountable brain injuries, Preston Crown Court was told

She confirmed that the blow to his head from falling out of the highchair did not cause his death.

No further details about the circumstances were given in court.

Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said the decision to accept the manslaughter plea came after discussions, including with Harlow’s family, who were in court. It came as a murder trial was about to begin.

Police were called to Foster’s white-painted bungalow in Hapton at around 1.20pm on March 1, 2022, following reports that a little boy had suffered a medical episode.

Harlow was taken to hospital for treatment but died on March 5.

Passing sentence, the judge described Harlow as a “happy, healthy, much-loved” boy, but said that despite poor health and pain in her hip, Foster chose to continue to care for more children than she was expected to have. Should have Ofsted rules. and this contributed to her ‘loss of patience’.

He said: “You should have been a safe pair of hands in which Gemma Collinge could secure her precious child.

“I have no doubt that you succumbed on March 1, 2022, in part due to your inability to meet the demands of caring for four children. You lost your patience and he was on the receiving end.

‘You shook a child of (almost) ten months so violently that devastating injuries were caused. His death was caused during a seizure.”