A dad whose kiss led to the heartbreaking death of his baby son spiralled into a self-destructive life of drink and drugs, culminating in a terrifying attack on his former partner.
Carl Maclaren blamed himself after he unwittingly passed on the cold sore virus, herpes simplex, to his premature infant who died of multiple organ failure aged just two months in 2012.
A court heard today that he had trouble coming to terms with the death of Kaiden, whose life support system was switched off after he struggled for life in hospital for six weeks.
During the first Covid lockdown, Maclaren began drinking heavily again which was the beginning of the end of his relationship with his partner, his children’s mum, Marie Clare McCormick.
Liverpool Crown Court was told that he broke into her home, following the end of their 12-year relationship earlier this year, while she was resting on her bed upstairs on the afternoon of May 11.
She became afraid after hearing banging downstairs and Maclaren then came into her room shouting at her, as well as accusing her of being with someone else, said Paul Blasbery, prosecuting.
He held her by the hair with one hand and began punching her with his other, causing her to fall to the floor. She instinctively rolled herself into a ball to try to protect herself before he stamped on her in the direction of her face and head.
“She was screaming for help and she was terrified the assault would not stop and genuinely thought she was going to be killed," the prosecutor added.
He left the property in Netherton, Bootle, shouting, “Watch, I’m going to get those kids taken off you.”
She waited a while and then went downstairs and, on seeing her bloodied face, asked a friend to collect her children from school so they did not see her injuries before ringing the police.
At 4.45pm while she was waiting for the police, Maclaren came back smelling strongly of alcohol and slurring his words saying he was sorry. He was then arrested.
Jailing 44-year-old Maclaren for three years, the judge, Recorder Nicola Daley, said that he had violated the safety of the victim’s home by breaking in through a window.
She said that while she was lying on the floor trying to protect herself he “stamped on her repeatedly and punched her. She was screaming for help and was terrified that the assault would not stop.”
Recorder Daley said that when the police arrived they could see the pattern of his trainers on her where he had stamped on her.
In an impact statement, the mum-of-three, who was left with painful bruises and reddening, told how she had been left feeling paranoid. The judge said that the tragic death of his young son “featured in the argument that day but that did not give you justification for what you did".
Maclaren, of Seaforth, pleaded guilty to burglary involving an attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm on 37-year-old Ms McCormick.
The judge imposed a five-year restraining order.
Jeremy Rawson, defending, said the death of the defendant’s son received publicity including in a magazine and on daytime tv and he spiralled down into the use of drugs and alcohol.
He has two previous convictions involving violence but had never received a jail sentence.
His lawyer said he is remorseful and while on remand has applied for two jobs in prison.
“He says he is not going to drink again or take drugs,” said Mr Rawson.
Maclaren had gone round that day to remonstrate with her over their children’s care, he added.
After Kaiden’s death the couple wrote to the home secretary asking for more information to be given to expectant mums and started an e-petition for hospitals to include facts about the virus on leaflets to new parents.
