Amy Cave and Craig Neill were charged after the youngster collapsed and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

Teesside Crown Court heard how 20-year-old Cave was at the Darlington property when the paramedics arrived to treat the seriously injured child.

The jury had heard how Cave and Neill had become a couple in the weeks leading up to the incident on May 26 this year.

During the evidence, a series of messages sent between the pair before they were charged in connection with the child's injuries were read out in court.

Rupert Doswell KC, prosecuting, took the jury through some of the messages which were downloaded from the defendants' mobile phones.

Neill made a series of threats towards Cave after learning that she was pregnant with their child and demanded that she have an abortion.

In one, he said: "You ain't got nowt to scratch you're a*** with, it is going regardless."

Cave asked Neill for some money back and he replied: "You will get the money back when I see the thing has gone out of your belly."

Friends and family had raised concerns with Cave about Neill and his reputation but she took no heed of the warning, the court heard.

In one message to friends and family, Cave said Neill had changed and "he makes me really happy".

Mr Doswell showed the jury a series of videos and photographs of the injuries to the toddler's face in the days leading up to the incident.

The critically injured one-year-old was initially taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for emergency treatment for a fractured skull.

Paramedics and then police were called to an address in the Branksome area on the afternoon of May 26 at about 1.45pm following reports of an unresponsive child.

A medical expert is expected to tell the jury that the injury was caused by a blunt-force impact and was not accidental.

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The jury heard how part of the child's skull was removed to allow for the swelling to go down and further examinations showed both of the child's wrists had been broken.

Cave, 20, of Waltham Close, Darlington, pleaded not guilty to the charge of allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

While Neill, of Yarm Road, Darlington, denies a charge of causing a child to suffer serious physical harm.