A father who denied killing his baby son three times has now pleaded guilty.
After five days of trial at Preston Crown Court, Peter Sayle has changed his plea to being guilty of the manslaughter of six-week-old baby Huxley.
Baby Huxley Sayle was taken to Royal Preston Hospital after being found unresponsive with a head injury at his home in Squires Wood, Fulwood, around 1.30am on 14 June 2022.
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He was later transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and despite medical efforts his injuries were too severe and he died on 14 July 2022 when treatment was withdrawn.
Lancashire Police arrested Huxley’s father, Peter, now of no fixed address, three days after his son’s death. It was during this interview and on three further occasions he denied any wrongdoing.
After five days of a trial – after being charged with the murder of his son – Sayle, 32, changed his plea to being guilty of manslaughter.
DCI Andy Fallows of the force major investigation team said: “I welcome today’s manslaughter plea put forward by Peter Sayle. After three and a half years of denials he has finally admitted that he is responsible for assaulting and causing baby Huxley’s death.
“While this has been a particularly sensitive and challenging case, my investigation team’s relentless focus has always been on achieving justice for baby Huxley. Today we have managed to achieve that.”
The denials and mounting evidence against Peter Sayle
Peter Sayle was first arrested on 17 June 2022 at his then home in Fulwood on suspicion of section 18 wounding.
He denied any wrongdoing saying the injuries caused were a result of him performing CPR on his son.
A CT scan became available on 22 June 2022 and medical experts at the children’s hospital concluded Huxley had suffered a number of skull and brain injuries.
The author of the report indicated the injuries would have resulted in immediate symptoms and were consistent with Huxley having been violently shaken.
On 22 July 2022 as more evidence emerged to police indicating that Huxley had come to deliberate harm, Sayle was re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He again denied any wrongdoing.
A Home office post mortem established baby Huxley died from a traumatic head injury and no natural disease had caused his traumatic collapse.
Dr Alison Armour also concluded that the two rib fractures Huxley had suffered were inconsistent with having been caused by CPR, and were more likely caused while he was forcefully gripped or squeezed around the chest during an episode of vigorous shaking.
A final interview with police on 27 March 2025 saw Sayle deny forcibly shaking his son and he said he had done nothing to cause his son’s collapse.
Police examined Sayle’s phone and had made web searches made shortly after the birth of his son. These included the phrases “tips to deal with frustration and anger”, “baby crying makes me angry dad”, and “I’m getting so angry when baby won’t sleep”.
Sayle will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Thursday 12 February.
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