Dad jailed over killing of two-month old son

A father who killed his two-month-old son by causing him fatal head injuries has been jailed for nine years.

Anton Shields pleaded guilty last week to the manslaughter of his son Cody and was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday.

Cody, described in court as a "healthy and happy'' baby, died in hospital two days after paramedics were called to his home near Bamford, Derbyshire, in June last year.

Opening the case against Shields, of Hardwick Crescent, Athersley South, Barnsley, prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said Cody suffered a "devastating'' head injury while in the sole care of his father.

Mr Hankin told the court: "The prosecution case is that, unable to settle him, the defendant became frustrated with Cody and assaulted him, causing fatal head injuries.''

The medical evidence indicated the mechanism of assault involved an "impact'' component, Mr Hankin said.

Offering mitigation, defence QC Nicholas Clarke said Shields, who has suffered from anxiety and depression, viewed the offence as "inexplicable'' but conceded he had lost his temper and self-control.

"For those vital, tragic seconds he behaved in the way which the prosecution describes,'' Mr Clarke told the court.

Mr Justice Andrew Baker was told Shields initially claimed his son had suffered a "spontaneous collapse'' while feeding and later claimed he had found him struggling for breath after briefly leaving him alone.

Passing sentence, the judge told Shields neither account had been the truth.

Ruling Cody was subjected to violent shaking and a significant impact on a "semi-yielding'' surface, the judge said: "You, Anton Shields, did violence to him that killed him... when he was alone in your care for a brief period.

"He was unsettled and did not feed properly, probably in response to his vaccinations that morning.''

The judge noted Cody's mother's victim personal statement to the court had spoken of the profound pain felt by the infant's family.

The judge told 39-year-old Shields: "In her words, losing Cody ripped her life apart and devastated her whole family.

"You did not have the courage to admit what happened until the day before you were due to stand trial.

"You have never given an open and honest account, as you sought to avoid the responsibility for Cody's death that is yours and yours alone.''

Although the judge accepted Shields had not intended to kill or even cause serious harm, he told him: "You did a horribly dangerous thing that had a terrible consequence.''

Shields appeared in the dock for the hearing wearing a face mask and a Puma tracksuit top.

Before lifting a reporting restriction that prevented the media from naming Cody, the judge said it was clear his mother and other family members "remain haunted'' at his loss.

The court was told Cody's mother was visiting a nearby post office with her father during the time in which her son suffered his injuries.

"The court can only wish her and her family well and hope that their pain will ease,'' the judge told the court.