BABY Patrick’s parents last night spoke of a handsome, bright-eyed boy whose life was cut cruelly short.

Gwyn Best and mum Kirsty Bradley criticised the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to continue with the murder case against killer Paul Rich, saying it had “desecrated” the memory of little Patrick.

Kirsty, 28, said: “Rich has continued to lie throughout the investigation and I’m absolutely livid the CPS has accepted his plea deal of manslaughter. Patrick isn’t getting any justice.”

Dad Gwyn, 36, added: “The manner in which Patrick died has been like having my heart ripped from my chest. Every day is a living nightmare.

“The fact Paul Rich has lied and deceived everyone over the last two years has made things even worse. He has shown no remorse or guilt for his actions.

“And the fact the CPS have accepted a plea deal for manslaughter has just rubbed salt in our wounds and desecrated the memory of Patrick.

“In my opinion, Paul Rich is a cold hearted and callous baby killer who deserves to see out his remaining days rotting behind bars.”

The parents said little Patrick, killed aged three months, had been born 10 weeks premature. When he was born he weighed little over 3lbs and spent the first month-and-a-half of his life being cared for in hospital.

“He fought to live from the minute he was born and continued to do so throughout his exceptionally short life,” said Kirsty.

“When Gwyn and I were allowed to bring him home we were absolutely ecstatic we thought that was the end to Patrick having any stints hospital.

“Only a matter of days earlier, the consultant who cared for Patrick didn’t have any concerns about him when we took him to an outpatient appointment. The consultant was pleased with his progress and I thought that was the last time we would need to go to hospital for six months but how wrong we were.

“I struggle to deal with the fact I have more pictures of Patrick in hospital than what I do of him at home.

“He was an incredible brave little baby boy who went through so much in his exceptionally short life.”

Gwyn said: “Patrick was a very bright-eyed boy and had a mesmerizing stare. He fought so stoically and had started to thrive at home.

“You could see in his face that he was taking in everything around him, studying the world where he was growing up. It was evident in his gaze that he was going to grow up to be a handsome and intelligent young man.

“The fact that in his exceptionally short life he spent more time in hospital then he did at home is very distressing to both his mother and I.

“It hurts to know he’d fought so hard to live, but was denied the chance to experience things most of us take for granted.”