Death of Joshua, 2, stuns community

Nov 8 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

A COMMUNITY was last night in shock after a toddler was found dead in his Cheshire home.

Named locally as Joshua Jones, the two-year-old was described by one neighbour as a “bright and happy child”.

But members of the child’s family in Runcorn said he was recently treated in hospital for a broken arm and two black eyes.

Cheshire Police were last night still questioning a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering the child, who died at 10.30pm on Tuesday.

Neighbours in Tilbury Place said the little boy lived with his mother Nichola Bowman and her boyfriend, named only as “Wayne”, whom she met six months ago over the internet, they claimed.

The toddler’s father, Jason Jones, 25, who lives in a nearby street, did not want to comment.

But one neighbour described as Joshua as “a lovely little boy with chestnut red hair and brown eyes”.

Mr Jones’s cousin, Carl O’Rourke, 28, who lives two doors away from Joshua’s home, spoke of his sadness and said Joshua had recently spent 10 days in hospital.

And his partner Jayne White said: “Nichola met Wayne on the internet and has been with him about six months.

“She was out at the time and he was looking after the baby – I saw him.

“I was upstairs when I heard the ambulances and I came downstairs panicking.

“I was in the kitchen and I heard someone asking Wayne what had happened and he said Joshua stopped breathing.

“He was being sick outside. The ambulance men were trying to resuscitate the boy for about 20 minutes.”

She added: “The baby has only just been allowed to come home from hospital with two black eyes and a broken arm.”

Police have not yet named the pair in custody, but said the results of a post-mortem examination were due back.

Yesterday, forensic teams carried out investigations at the house. Neighbours last night expressed their shock. One woman, who lives in a property overlooking Tilbury Place, said she saw paramedics take the child to the ambulance.

The mother of one, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “It had just gone 10.30pm and the sirens woke me.

“I saw a paramedic bring the little boy out in his arms and people were running around.

“Later on, I heard the mum screaming in the street which backs on to my back room.

“There were two ambulances and a car as well as the police.

“The whole thing lasted for about an hour, then the ambulances left and the police were there all night.

“We were shocked. I don’t know the family. I don’t think they have lived here long.”

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk