Dad admits killing 11-year-old son after he was found near Derbyshire country park

A father has admitted to killing his own 11-year-old son after he was found injured near a country park.

Michael Harrison pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mikey Harrison during a court hearing.

Ambulance crews were called to the Thorpes Road area of Heanor at around 1.15pm on Saturday 18 June, after receiving a report that Mikey was injured. He later died in hospital.

The 41-year-old defendant appeared over a link from HMP Nottingham into Derby Crown Court.

He admitted to causing the death of the boy but denied a more serious charge of murdering him.

Throughout the short hearing, Harrison, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit top and grey jogging bottoms, leaned forward with his head on a desk, lifting it only to enter his pleas.

As well as being charged with the murder he also faces one charge of controlling and coercive behaviour of a woman, which he pleaded not guilty to at this morning's hearing.

He initially told the police that Mikey had suffered injuries as a result of falling out of a tree close to Shipley Country Park.

But today, his barrister Vanessa Marshall KC said: "I can make it clear it is the defendant's case that his son did not fall out of a tree but that he punched his abdomen area several times.

"There was a subsequent fall by his son where he fell in a bathroom and Mr Harrison believes he sustained a head injury and may well have fallen on his stomach."

After the pleas were entered, Judge Shaun Smith KC asked the prosecutor, Peter Joyce KC: "What is the position as far as the Crown is concerned?"

He replied: "That it is not acceptable and we want a trial on both counts (murder and controlling and coercive behaviour)."

Ambulance crews were called to the Thorpes Road area of Heanor at around 1.15pm on Saturday, June 18, after receiving a report that Mikey was injured. He later died in hospital.

After his father was charged last summer, a different judge - Nirmal Shant KC - lifted a previous reporting restriction banning the publication of the victim's name "in the interests of public justice".

Harrison, of Eaton Terrace, Mapperley, Nottingham, is scheduled to stand trial on January 16 at Derby Crown Court. He was remanded into custody by Judge Smith.

In a statement released shortly after Mikey's death, Chief Superintendent Hayley Barnett, of Derbyshire Police, said: "I completely understand that the tragic news of a young boy’s death has sparked shock and concern in the local community and that people will speculate about the circumstances surrounding the death.

"As is always the case once charges are brought, we are limited in what we can say due to ongoing court proceedings. I would, however, like to offer reassurance to the public that we are treating this as an isolated incident.

"The boy’s family are being supported by specially-trained officers and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.

"Local officers are on patrol in the Heanor area and are more than happy to speak with anyone who is concerned about this incident, or who may have information to pass on.

"Officers may not be able to directly answer every question due to the reasons outlined above, but they are available to provide reassurance and to ensure those living in the town feel safer."