Man Jailed For Murder Of Toddler Roxie Archer A man has been jailed for a minimum term of 18 years after murdering a toddler he was looking after. Roxie Archer, aged 23 months, suffered a fatal brain injury after she was "forcibly and repeatedly punched" by Ben Raftery, 21. He was looking after the toddler for his girlfriend, who had flown out to New York for her 21st birthday. Raftery called 999 in the early hours of March 10 and claimed that Roxie had fallen down the stairs at her home in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. She died in hospital the next day but staff found she had also suffered serious bruising and retinal haemorrhaging. The post-mortem examination concluded the injuries were non-accidental and inflicted while the defendant was in sole charge of Roxie. Raftery was "manipulative and controlling," said Sophie Archer Extensive bruising to the face, head and limbs were also consistent with prodding or nipping having taken place, said medical experts. Manchester Crown Court heard that Raftery first seemed to bond with the girl after moving in with her mother, Sophie Archer, but then started to engage in "cruel behaviour" towards her, such as holding her upside down by her ankle to "toughen her up." Miss Archer said she had also been the victim of violence at the hands of her former boyfriend, but had been persuaded to let him look after her daughter for one night because he said he wanted to bond with her. Raftery must serve at least 18 years of his life sentence before he can apply for parole. The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, told Raftery: "It was an appalling crime which involved a grown and powerful man inflicting a number of hard blows on a toddler which were sufficiently forceful to cause devastating brain damage from which she died." He added: "How the defendant caused any of the injuries to Roxie is not clear. But the jury have clearly rejected the defendant's account that they were caused by an accidental fall down the stairs.