Rebecca Lea Denton sentenced for criminal neglect of three-week-old baby son Alvin

As Rebecca Denton’s baby lay unresponsive, dying of hidden injuries, she didn’t seek medical attention – she blew bong smoke into his face. Today a court let her return home.

A neglectful mother has avoided jail after she failed to seek medical care for her three-week-old son, leaving her eldest child heartbroken.

Mother-of-two Rebecca Lea Denton, 35, of Christie Downs, left her newborn son Alvin in the care of the boy’s father while she went shopping with a friend in April 2021.

Despite the critically injured boy failing to feed properly, being unusually docile during a bath and being unable to open an eye in the hours after she returned, Ms Denton did not seek medical care for her son. He died 42 hours later.

Denton pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal neglect.

The court heard Alvin suffered multiple injuries including fractured ribs and bleeding on the brain.

Rebecca Denton (left) and Ashley McGregor (right) were charged over the death of three-week-old Alvin. Picture Facebook.

Rebecca Denton, who is guilty of the criminal neglect of her newborn son, outside court after an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

During sentencing on Thursday, the District Court heard the injuries were allegedly inflicted by the boy’s father – Ashley McGregor – who allegedly had told police he tripped over the family dog and knocked over the bassinet, which Alvin was in.

Mr McGregor has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter and is scheduled to face trial by judge alone next January, where Denton will be giving evidence for the prosecution.

The court heard Denton had blown second-hand bong smoke at Alvin after Mr McGregor allegedly suggested that Alvin may be suffering from cannabis withdrawals because she had used the drug throughout her pregnancy.

Denton reported waking during the night and hearing Alvin “gargling and grunting”, and a “loud, squealing” cry as if he was in pain.

When she again woke the next morning at 6.30am, Alvin was “cold and unresponsive”.

Judge Rauf Soulio said while it was accepted Denton didn’t cause the injuries to Alvin that resulted in his death, obtaining medical care could have prevented it.

Denton’s older son said in his victim impact statement that his life is now better without her, as she betrayed him and his brother.

“He said that he had experienced suicidal ideation in order to be with his little brother,” Judge Soulio said.

“He says that he feels sick that his little brother is gone because of his own mother.”

Indiana Davis, for Denton, previously told the court her client was allegedly in a “coercive control” relationship with Mr McGregor, who dictated her movements and “expected obedience” and had not suggested they seek medical help.

She said Denton was an otherwise “loving mother” who had made an “incomprehensible decision”.

Judge Soulio sentenced Denton, who is now the full-time carer for her grandmother, to four years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

He ordered the sentence be served on home detention.