A FATHER has appeared in court after being charged with the manslaughter of his son.

Matthew Banks, from Gilbert Road in Chichester, did not enter a plea and the case was sent for trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, with an initial plea and care preparation hearing on March 11.

The 33-year-old appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with the manslaughter of his son, Leo, at the family address.

Leo died in hospital, aged two, in February 2020 having been receiving specialist treatment for head injuries which were reported in December 2017, when Leo was six weeks old.

The prosecution, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, follows an investigation by officers from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Banks is currently on unconditional court bail.

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