Baby P ‘stepfather’ may appeal against rape conviction

LAWYERS representing Baby P’s ‘stepfather’ confirmed yesterday they are considering an appeal against his conviction for raping a two-year-old girl.

Tim Bittlestone, of Leslie Franks Solicitors, said: “We will go through the process with this client as we do with every client.”

Legal sources suggested any appeal could focus on the age of the victim, who was the prosecution’s main witness.

She was just four when she testified at the Old Bailey via videolink and questions have been raised about basing a prosecution on the evidence of such a young witness.

The defendant is facing a life sentence after his conviction on Friday.

Baby P’s mother denied a cruelty charge involving the same girl and was found not guilty by the jurors, who had no idea they were trying the couple in the Baby P case.

The 32-year-old’s victim, like Baby P, was on Haringey council’s at risk register.

The defendant, who Baby P knew as ‘Dad’, was convicted with lodger Jason Owen, 36, of causing or allowing Baby P’s death last November. Baby P’s mother, 27, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

The child was found dead in his cot with a broken back and fractured ribs. He suffered months of ill-treatment, culminating in his death after a punch in the mouth knocked one of his teeth down his throat.