Wisbech father shook his baby and caused bleed on his brain

The 20-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, tried to claim his child's bruises were from the youngster "bumping into things" in an attempt to cover up what he had done.

He was looking after the boy for just over an hour on May 30, 2019, when the incident occurred at a home in Wisbech.

The father pleaded guilty to the crimes at Cambridge Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Paramedics were called at 3.40pm by a neighbour who told them the child, who was just 10 months old, wasn't breathing properly.

They were told the man had come out of his house shouting for help before the neighbour attempted to perform CPR and by the time an ambulance arrived, the little boy was breathing again.

He was taken to hospital where checks revealed he had a bleed on the brain, retinal bleeding behind his eyes and bruises of varying age all over his body.

The father was arrested and claimed the bruises were from the youngster learning to walk.

He told officers the baby was playing happily and "just went floppy" after falling off a child's chair and then claimed the baby had "cried himself unconscious" after refusing to nap all day.

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However, medical experts believed the boy’s injuries were non-accidental, were likely a result of shaking, and the excessive bruising was due to “rough or impatient handling or lack of supervision”.

The father was later charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, July 7, he was jailed for one year and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to the crime.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Rook KC said it was clear he “shook the child severely”, after losing control when the young boy was disturbed, crying and expected to be having a nap.

He added the shaking could have proved fatal had the bleeding continued but fortunately, the boy recovered and left hospital after four days.

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The judge refused calls to suspend the father's prison sentence, stating that the risks from severe shaking were “just too high, even if a temporary loss of self-control".

DC Amanda Sylvester, who investigated, added: “This was a shocking and upsetting case in which a boy of just 10 months old suffered significant injuries. 

"His father was one of the people he relied upon to keep him safe but he did the opposite.

“Thankfully, the young boy is now thriving in a safe and happy environment, but the outcome could have been much worse if the appropriate agencies had not become involved when they did.  

“I’d like to praise the medical professionals who noticed when something didn’t seem quite right, and the neighbour who gave important first aid before paramedics arrived.

“I would also urge anyone who is concerned for the welfare of a child to report it. We all have a responsibility to protect children in our communities – just one call could make all the difference.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has urged anyone who has concerns about a child, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, to report it to social care or police online or by calling 101.