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.

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