A mother who killed a baby in her care was not allowed to be alone with children after threatening to throw her own son out of a window.

Shannon Driver, 27, was found guilty of manslaughter after a court heard she violently shook Jaxon Syrett.

The jury at Lewes Crown Court, sitting at Hove, heard the 18-month-old had injuries consistent with being gripped tightly around the chest while being shaken, swung and being thrown or slammed down on a hard surface.

Jaxon died in hospital on September 24, 2020, after six days on life support.

Driver, of North Road in Bexhill, claimed he slipped and hit his head in the shower when she turned her back to grab a towel.

She was looking after him while his father Kieran Irvin was at work, despite only being allowed supervised visits with her own son.

Driver was in a relationship with Kieran Irvin and was living with him and his family in Bexhill.

Jaxon was Mr Irvin's son with his previous partner Chloe Syrett.

The court heard a family court ruling meant Driver was only allowed supervised contact with her own son and not allowed to be left alone with other children.

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It heard how emergency services were called to the property in London Road, Bexhill, to a report of a seriously injured child.

When paramedics arrived, they noticed Jaxon was dry and wearing a clean nappy.

A postmortem examination found Jaxon had suffered significant non-accidental injuries suggesting inflicted trauma.

Ms Syrett described her son as a happy, healthy, normal baby.

She told the court she had insisted Driver was never to be left alone with him.

She said she laid down ground rules when she found out her ex-partner was seeing Driver.

“I knew she had a child that didn’t live with her,” she said. “I put it down to mental health because I knew she had mental health problems.

“I was concerned because she had lost her own child. I said I wanted her to know her place and not act like she was his mum.”

Ms Syrett said she told Driver to leave after she spoke to her at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings before Jaxon was moved to London for brain surgery.

The baby died after his parents agreed to end life support.

In a statement, Jaxon’s family described their devastation.

“The tragic loss of Jaxon has changed our lives for ever,” they said. “We will never see Jaxon’s cheeky smile again, nor hear his infectious laugh and will miss every milestone Jaxon had to reach.

“Jaxon had his whole life ahead of him.

“We as a family hold and cherish every memory we have of Jaxon.”

The family thanked police for “getting a conviction and some kind of justice for our baby”.

Sussex Police investigator Dick Hemmings said: “This was an investigation into the most tragic of circumstances.

“No family should have to go through what Jaxon’s have experienced and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences for their devastating loss.

“They have shown incredible strength and determination to support this investigation, which faced multiple delays during the court process.

“No judicial outcome can make up for this tragedy, but with this conviction we can look ahead to sentencing and the conclusion of this process.”

Driver will be sentenced in March.