Christopher Yates, 30, from Gateshead, has been jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing serious physical harm to his seven-month-old son. The baby suffered brain damage and other injuries typically seen in high-speed car crashes.
Attack and Delayed Help
Yates violently shook his son after losing his temper during a night feed, then failed to seek medical help for hours. Instead of calling an ambulance, he wrapped a towel around his head to drown out the baby's cries.
The court heard that Yates had consumed 11 cans of Foster's lager and snorted a line of cocaine before the attack. He admitted shaking the baby five times while shouting at him to shut up.
Catastrophic Injuries
The baby suffered a bleed on the brain, seizures, and widespread haemorrhaging to both eyes. He also had bruises, abrasions, and prominent blood vessels in his eyes. The child has lost his sight and will need medication for life, with a likely shortened life expectancy.
In a victim impact statement, the foster mum said: "He has broken his brain, he has broken his life, he has broken everyone's hearts. All he had to do was phone us and we would have been straight there."
Custody and Background
Yates gained custody of his son after working with social services, but within three weeks and four days he inflicted the injuries. Family members noticed he was drinking heavily and struggling to cope, but he did not seek help.
The court heard Yates had a history of drink and drug issues and an "explosive temper" when under the influence. He initially lied, claiming the baby fell from a rocking chair, but later admitted his responsibility.
Sentencing
Judge Julie Clemitson told Yates: "No sentence can undo any of the harm and distress to (the baby) and those who care about him. Their lives, and indeed yours, are changed irrevocably and forever."
Yates, of Morris Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, had eight previous convictions. His defence said he suffered violence as a child and has mental health issues.
