Heartbroken mother reveals how her ex-partner shook their newborn son so violently he was left disabled and blind – and died in her arms two years later after one poignant last Christmas together

• Hannah Hawdon, 31, found newborn Leo grey and mottled in his cot
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A mother has spoken of the heartbreak she endured after her former partner shook their four-week-old baby son so hard, he was left with injuries that eventually led to his death.

Just weeks before Christmas in 2017, Hannah Hawdon, 31, from Chichester, found her newborn son, Leo, grey and mottled – but her partner Matthew Banks, 34,  initially denied hurting the youngster.

Leo was rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis, but a CT scan showed he’d suffered a severe tear on the brain and bleeding behind his eyes.

For weeks, Banks pleaded his innocence until finally admitting to Hannah that he’d shaken their son. Tragically, Leo died from his injuries just over two years later. 

Banks was charged with manslaughter and jailed for three years and eight months last October, which was later increased to five years and four months by the Court of Appeal. 

Hannah Hawdon, from Chichester, pictured with baby Leo after he was shaken by his father, Matthew Banks in December 2017. He was left with severe injuries, which eventually caused his death in February 2020

Matthew Banks (pictured) met Hannah through a mutual friend when she was 21. They had Leo – their second child together – in November 2017

Baby Leo pictured as a newborn, he was just four weeks’ old when his father shook him, causing devastating injuries 

Now, Hannah is speaking out to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The stay-at-home mum says: ‘If only Matthew had called on me that night, instead of hurting Leo.

‘His actions killed my boy. And it could’ve been avoided if he’d told me he was struggling. I’ll never forgive him.’

Hannah met Banks through a mutual friend when she was 21. In January 2016 they had a baby girl, Isabella, now seven.

According to Hannah, first-time dad Banks was a hands-on father, changing nappies and helping her care for their children.  

Hannah pictured with her ex partner Matthew with their first child, daughter Isabella-Hannah Hawdon, now seven

Leo, aged just four weeks old, is pictured fighting for his life after being violently shaken by his father

Baby Leo pictured with sister Isabella; the infant was fitted with a feeding tube after being treated at hospital for his injuries

A year later, in November 2017, they had a little boy, Leo. But this time, Banks was withdrawn.

Hannah remembers: ‘Instead of bonding with Leo, he preferred playing on his Xbox than helping me with childcare.’

Then, on 18th December 2017, when Leo was four weeks old, they went to see Santa as a family and did some Christmas shopping. 

Back at the home the couple shared, Hannah put Isabella to bed before taking Leo upstairs for a final feed.

As she laid him in the Moses basket, he started to whine. Hannah says: ‘Matthew came in the room and said he’d take him as I had a cold and needed rest.

‘I didn’t think anything of it and appreciated the help.’

Leo is pictured back at home after being treated for his injuries but doctors warned Hannah that he would eventually die from his injuries

Matthew Banks, who shook baby Leo is pictured with his daughter Isabella-Hannah Hawdon (pictured, left)

Hannah (right) pictured with daughter Isabella, now seven, (left) wants to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Baby Leo (pictured right) with sister Isabella (left) at 18 months old; Leo had lost his sight to his injuries

Leo pictured during his last Christmas in 2019, with his sister Isabella (left); he had been left with injuries he couldn’t overcome

However, it was a moment that would change her life forever. The following morning Hannah woke up and found Leo in Bank’s arms on the sofa. 

She remembers: ‘He told me he’d had a bad night trying to settle him.

‘When I picked up Leo, he squealed in pain. He looked mottled and grey.’

Panicking, Hannah called 111 and rushed Leo to St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester. There, doctors suspected he had meningitis.

But an emergency CT scan revealed Leo had suffered a tear on his brain and bleeding behind the eyes. For five hours he was having seizures.

Baby Leo back at home following his brain injury after being shaken

Hannah, pictured with her children, says she now wants to make others aware of how devastating the injuries caused by shaking a baby can be

Meanwhile, Hannah quizzed Banks about the night before, but he denied anything had happened.

Social services and the police were called and Hannah was told she couldn’t be alone with Isabella or Leo. 

The following week, doctors then warned Hannah they were going to switch off Leo’s ventilator on Boxing Day to see if he could breathe on his own.

He survived, but was left severely disabled.

Hannah and Banks not long after the couple had first met; they went on to have two children together 

Two weeks later, Hannah confronted Banks again and asked him if he’d shaken their son.

She recalls: ‘Matthew finally admitted it and I felt sick to my stomach. I rang the police and gave a statement.’

On New Years’ Eve 2018, Leo had surgery to fit a feeding tube in his stomach. But he suffered a seizure that left him blind.

Hannah says: ‘Doctors said that Leo would eventually die from his injuries. I knew 2019 was my last year with him. It was heartbreaking.’

On 26th February 2020, Leo slipped away at home in Hannah’s arms. Soon after, Banks was charged with manslaughter.

In October 2022, he received three years and eight months in prison at Winchester Crown Court for killing his son.

Baby Leo (pictured with his older sister) suffered seizures for hours after being shaken

Doctors had told Hannah to prepare for the worst and that her son wouldn’t recover from his injuries

The mother says she was ‘disgusted’ by the sentence, which she felt failed to reflect the suffering endured by baby Leo in his short life

Hannah says: ‘I was disgusted and appealed.’

Earlier this year, in February, Banks’ sentenced was increased to five years and four months at the Court of Appeal.

Hannah says: ‘It’s still not enough for him stealing our son’s life away in a moment of frustration.

‘My Leo suffered so much in his short life all because Matthew snapped that night.

‘I want others who maybe struggling to seek help before they end up hurting or killing an innocent child.’

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