‘Bright, well-nourished’ baby died as stepdad, mum took drugs, neglected him for ‘days’: court

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A baby boy went from being “bright and well-nourished” to dead within five days, as his mother and her new partner consumed drugs and spent “days prior” not meeting his needs, a court has been told.

Andrew William Campbell sat quietly in the dock, occasionally placing his head in his hands as he learned his fate for the manslaughter of eight-and-a-half month old Dexter Wilton in 2019.

His former partner, Natalie Jade Whitehead – who is Dexter’s biological mother – was sentenced in October last year.

Justice Catherine Muir jailed Campbell, 45, for eight-and-a-half years, noting he knew Whitehead was not adequately caring for her child.

“You made a positive decision to consume drugs which rendered you unable to properly care for (Dexter),” Justice Muir said.

“Your actions were not a result of unforeseen consequences … it was prolonged.”

In March, Campbell pleaded guilty to Dexter’s manslaughter and charges of failing to supply the necessaries of life and negligent acts causing harm on the day his trial was scheduled to begin in Brisbane Supreme Court.

The Crown withdrew a charge of misconduct with a corpse.

On Wednesday, the court was told Campbell and Whitehead formed a relationship a month before Dexter’s death and he moved into her Ipswich home.

Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand said Campbell was not the child’s biological father but still had a duty of care for the child due to his de facto relationship with Whitehead.

On June 11, 2019, Dexter stayed with a paternal aunt in the rural town of Tara for several days.

Mr Le Grand said at the time Dexter had “severe nappy rash” which was “raw and bleeding”.

The baby was returned to Whitehead five days later in good health, “bright and well-nourished” and with most of his rash gone.

Five days later, an “upset” Whitehead phoned triple-0 and told the operator her baby was “completely gone”.

Paramedics responded and found Whitehead on a single mattress in the unit’s front room, holding Dexter to her chest and crying.

“It was obvious Dexter had been deceased for some time,” Mr Le Grand said.

The baby had severe nappy rash and lesions on his thigh, buttocks and groin area, he said.

A specialist pediatrician said Dexter suffered “severe neglect of his most basic needs – being food and fluid”, leading to acute malnutrition and dehydration.

There was no evidence he suffered from chronic malnutrition.

The court was told in the 21 hours leading up to Dexter’s death, he had been placed in a cot with a single bottle.

“The hours preceding Dexter’s death would have been extremely distressing, physically and emotionally,” Mr Le Grand said.

The court was told Campbell’s charge of negligent acts causing harm did not relate to baby Dexter.

Mr Le Grand said Campbell was to be sentenced on the basis he and Whitehead had consumed drugs, spending “days prior” not attending to Dexter’s needs.

Campbell had a three-page criminal history which mostly covered drug-related offending. One entry included a sentence for an armed robbery in his younger years.

The court was told the current offending did not serve as a “wake-up call” due to Campbell going on to commit domestic violence offences in 2020, following Dexter’s death.

Campbell was not charged with Dexter’s murder – later downgraded to manslaughter – until 2021.

“What it demonstrates is even with the horrific and tragic circumstances of the present case, which must have been clear to Mr Campbell as a direct result of his consumption of drugs, it was still noted he was using drugs at the time of the (domestic violence) offences,” Mr Le Grand said.

“It demonstrates a real lack of insight and ability to take stock of the consequences of his actions.”

Justice Muir said Campbell was aware Dexter was not adequately being cared for at the time but still chose his relationship and drug habit over caring for the infant child.

“You referred to yourself as a father to the children,” she said.

Justice Muir said Campbell demonstrated a lack of remorse due to his late plea of guilty to the charge and his limited attempts at rehabilitation.

Despite his 8.5 year term, Campbell will be eligible for parole in September 2026.

The nearly 900 days he spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.

Campbell’s barrister Nicholas Brown said the 45-year-old was assisting his mother after she was diagnosed with lung cancer and he had plans to move to Rockhampton to assist her.

The court was told Campbell had held prior employment as a chef, qualified mechanic and tow truck driver but had been “marred by heroin use” since age 16.

Campbell had been in a stable relationship since 2024, Mr Brown said.

Whitehead, who pleaded guilty to Dexter’s manslaughter in October last year, was sentenced to nine years’ jail.

With over three years served in pre-sentence custody, she was made eligible for parole by June this year.

On her sentencing date, the court was told she chose to “nourish her drug habit over her infant children”.

Whitehead’s barrister Joshua Fenton said she was remorseful for her actions and drew attention to the domestic violence his client had experienced throughout her relationships – leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

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