Yahoo News Blackpool tattoo artist watched YouTube video on 'how to do CPR' before calling 999 for toddler son
A dad accused of murdering his two-year-old son watched a YouTube video on how to perform CPR before calling paramedics for his son.
Daniel Hardcastle, 31, denies murdering his son Damion Russell, who suffered serious injuries while alone in his father's care. Hardcastle had taken on care of the little boy after learning he was a father, and moved to a flat in Central Drive, Blackpool, with the tot. The youngster had been taken into care and Hardcastle was identified as his father and fought to become the child's main carer.
He went through a five month assessment period before setting up home, with the support of his family, social workers and support service 'Dad Matters'. The assessment found Hardcastle to be a 'loving and caring dad' and Damion was 'a delight' whose face lit up when his dad entered the room. In July 2023, Hardcastle was granted parental responsibility and the pair set up home in a ground floor flat in Blackpool.
READ MORE: Tattoo artist 'killed toddler' weeks after being granted care of the little boy, court told
But in the weeks before Damion was injured, a manager at Haweside Nursery, where the little boy was registered, contacted Children's Services, raising concerns Damion had only attended a small number of sessions. A social worker also tried to contact Hardcastle over concerns he had not taken his son to an occupational therapy appointment. A foster carer, who had looked after the little boy, tried to arrange a visit but got no response from Hardcastle.
A family support worker from Blackpool Council's Children's Safeguarding team also tried to arrange a visit, and said she would call to the flat unannounced if she did not receive a response from Hardcastle. Preston Crown Court heard that on August 4, Hardcastle's stepfather died. On August 15 his mother, Linda Hardcastle, suffered a stroke.
On August 19, 2023, the tattoo artist called 999 to report his son had run into a coffee table and collapsed. Police and paramedics rushed to the flat in Central Drive, Blackpool, where Damion had gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest. Damion was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and later transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where medics fought to save his life. However the two-year-old died four days later after discussions with his mother to withdraw his life support.
CCTV and mobile phone evidence
As Damion was taken to hospital, Hardcastle was arrested on suspicion of wounding. After the little boy died, he was arrested again, on suspicion of murder. As detectives pieced together the events leading up to the incident they recovered CCTV and mobile phone evidence of Hardcastle's movements in the days and weeks before Damion was injured.
They saw numerous occasions where Hardcastle visited a local shop to buy cans of alcohol, on some days making repeat visits just a few hours apart. Damion was not seen on the CCTV while Hardcastle was at the shop. On August 17, Hardcastle messaged a woman at 11:50pm, telling her: "Come mine d***head, bring some booze with you." He told the woman he could not go out as he had his son with him, but said he would tattoo her if she visited him at home.
The following night he was on a video call with a different woman from 10pm to 5am on August 19. At 11:05am on August 19, he googled 'how long do bruises take to heal?' A minute later he googled 'how to give CPR'. At 11:08am, he watched a video on YouTube about how to perform CPR on an adult. A minute later he called 999.
Paramedics were at the flat in minutes and discovered Damion in the bedroom. Hardcastle was bare chested and had blood on his face. Officers also found human faeces on the sofa which the defendant had been wiping, and a blood soaked baby grow and wipes in the bin. Damion had 'significant bruising' to his head and face and a bite mark to his right thigh, Mr Brady said.
The toddler was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where scans showed bleeding to his brain. He was transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital where further tests concluded he had suffered respiratory arrest, followed by cardiac arrest, "most likely caused from forceful shaking in combination with a head impact".
Hardcastle, of Central Drive, Blackpool, denies murder. The trial continues.
