A mother and a man have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a four-month-old baby nearly four years ago.

Melissa Wilband, 27, the child’s mother, and 30-year-old Jack Wheeler have been charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child, Gloucestershire Police have said.

The infant, from Newent in the Forest of Dean, was admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in a serious condition on 12 April 2020.

The child was later transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital but died six days later, on 18 April.

Wheeler, from Ledbury, and Wilband, from Newent, have been released on conditional bail.

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The force said in a statement that the pair are due to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Friday 12 January.

“Gloucestershire Police’s major crime investigation team led on the investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges,” the statement added.

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