Pensioner accused of killing toddler stepson 50 years ago 'tried to give boy kiss of life'

71-year-old denies swinging little boy's head against fireplace in 1968

David Dearlove is accused at Teesside Crown Court of killing his young stepson 19-month-old Paul in 1968 (Cleveland Police/PA Wire)

A pensioner has gone on trial accused of murdering his stepson 50 years ago when the boy was a toddler.

The court heard David Dearlove, 71, attempted to give 19-month-old Paul Booth the kiss of life after he sustained a fatal brain injury.

Mr Dearlove denies swinging the toddler's head against a fireplace in the family home in 1968. He also denies cruelty charges relating to the boy's brother Peter and sister Stephanie who were aged four and three at the time.

He says the toddler fell out of bed. The children's late mother Carol Booth also said Paul's death was an accident before her death.

Teesside Crown Court was read a statement from Dorothy Hopton who lived next door to the unmarried couple in the Haverton Hill area of Stockton at the time.

Ms Hopton, who has since died, said in the declaration she remembered Ms Booth knocking on her door in tears and telling her "the baby had stopped breathing".

She went into their home and saw Paul lying unconscious on the sofa wearing a vest and pyjamas.

Her statement said: "David Dearlove was trying to give him the kiss of life.

"He was lifting his eyelids and putting his finger in his mouth."

She recalled telling him to stop lifting the child's eyelids, and asking what had happened.

"David Dearlove said he had fallen out of bed, the woman Booth did not answer as she was still sobbing," her statement said.

"I saw a red mark on the child's right hand.

"David Dearlove said it had been burnt on the hot water pipes upstairs."

Ms Hopton called for her daughter, a nurse, and when she returned she saw a bruise below Paul's left ear and a number of red marks on his neck.

A doctor came, then an ambulance crew and the child was taken to hospital, the statement said.

Earlier, the family babysitter who looked after the children when she was 10 or 11 recalled taking coal from their neighbour so she could heat the house for the children when the adults were out.

Barbara Flemming remembered seeing Ms Booth, a bubbly, "bonny" lady, concealing a black eye with make-up.

She told the court: "I was fascinated how she covered this up, but she never spoke to me about it."

Ms Flemming was also told Paul died falling out of bed. She was a flower girl at his funeral.

She kept in touch with Peter Booth throughout his life and told the jury they had two conversations, one around 20 years ago, and one in 2015 where he asked her how his brother died.

She told the jury: "I still said what I was told as a child, he fell out of bed.

"He said 'No, he didn't, that bastard killed him'."

The jury has heard Peter say he remembered coming downstairs when he was three-years-old and seeing Mr Dearlove swing his little brother's head against the fireplace.

The court also heard from a council childcare professional who visited the family in 1968 along with an NSPCC inspector, the month before the boy's death.

Sheila Plummer remembered seeing bruises on Paul's back, which his mother said were caused when he fell down some stairs. She said a bruise on his temple was due to a moped or motorbike falling on him.

Photographs of him were taken and she said she was satisfied by the answers given, had not spoken to Mr Dearlove at the time, and offered voluntary supervision to Ms Booth who accepted the offer of help.

Ms Plummer was due to visit the family again the day after Paul died, the jury heard.

The trial continues.

Press Association contributed to this report