Man who tortured newborn baby at house in Lenzie jailed for five years

A man who brutally attacked a baby from the day she was born - and once stated: "S*** happens” has been jailed for five years.

Michael Finlay left the tiny victim with a fractured skull during a series of assaults.

Jurors heard how the 34-year-old shook the girl "uncontrollably".

One of the attacks even occurred on Christmas Day.

Finlay, a carer for vulnerable people, is now behind bars after he was convicted of repeatedly assaulting the child to her severe injury and danger of life.

Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC handed Finlay the five year maximum sentence that can be imposed at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

He told Finlay: “Your rage has cost you your home, your employment and your liberty.

“No one who heard the evidence could fail to be moved by the plight of the child who suffered at your hands.”

The attacks occurred between October and December 2017 at a house in Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire.

The court heard last month how Finlay would "lose control" and yell at the baby to "shut up" when she cried.

In his speech to jurors, prosecutor Mark Allan said: "Consultants say the injuries sustained were non accidental."

Finlay, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, had been warned about his handling of the child.

The baby's mum texted him: "You need to be careful, so she does not have any knocks like last time."

He replied: "I know,.

The baby's aunt also sent him a message after noticing the child hurt.

Mr Allan said to jurors: "He told her 's*** happens' in reference to the first bruise that was discovered."

Finlay was also said to have bruised the girl on Christmas morning 2017 after he held her "too tight".

The court heard he Finlay inflicted "blunt force trauma" to cause the skull fracture.

He later could not explain where a lump on her head had come from.

Finlay’s lawyer Gary Allan QC told the court that he loved his job as a carer.

He said: “Not only was he good at caring for vulnerable people but he enjoyed it.