JAILED: 13 years for water-boarding a child

A man has been sentenced to 13 years and three months in prison after he admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent against an infant child in an act the judge described as water-boarding.
Earld Jason Romans sentenced to 13 years in prison for grievous bodily harm with intent against an infant childEarld Jason Romans sentenced to 13 years in prison for grievous bodily harm with intent against an infant child
Earld Jason Romans sentenced to 13 years in prison for grievous bodily harm with intent against an infant child

The child was rushed to hospital on the evening of 27 November 2015 following paramedics being called to a house in Bulwell.

Earld Jason Romans, 29, of Nottingham, changed his plea part way through the trial yesterday, Tuesday 21 June, 2016 and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court.

The child was later admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Queen’s Medical Centre with a life-threatening condition having being subjected to, what Judge Spencer described as, an episode of “water-boarding”.

Romans account was not consistent with police evidence including medical reports which identified that the child had consumed in excess of five pints of water in a short period of time.

Additionally, around 40 marks were found on the child’s body, the majority of which were consistent with physical abuse.

Initial medical opinion was extremely bleak and it was expected that the child would not survive. However, contrary to all odds, the child did make a full recover. The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit staff were commended in court for their actions and care.

Det Con Rhona Keenan, investigating officer, received a Crown Court Commendation along with Det Sgt Marcus Oldroyd, for their work on the case.

Det Con Keenan said: “This has been a distressing and disturbing case for all those involved which was compounded by Romans failure to offer any reasonable explanation and take responsibility for his actions.

“He has now been held accountable and we are pleased that today’s prison sentence reflects the severity of his actions that day.

“Thankfully, incidents of this nature are extremely rare. However, Nottinghamshire Police takes any incident of child neglect and cruelty extremely seriously.”

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