A man has been jailed for three years after he shook a baby with such force, it left the child with permanent brain damage.

Daniel Gilbert was caring for the seven-week-old baby at an address in Bedfordshire on the evening of August 9 2017, when the boy became floppy, started bleeding and went into cardiac arrest.

Emergency services were able to resuscitate the baby at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, but scans revealed he has suffered a bleed to the brain. He also suffered bleeding to the retina of both of his eyes and was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for specialist care.

It is believed the baby may never be able to walk or feed himself without the use of a tube.

Gilbert, 23, of Hyde View Road, Harpenden, was arrested and charged with GBH after medical experts ruled the baby's injuries were caused naturally.

He was found guilty of Section 20 GBH at Luton Crown Court on May 22 and on Wednesday, he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins, who investigated the case, said: “It was concluded that this was not a gentle shake, but a forcible, severe shake, causing the child to suffer permanent brain damage and partial vision. The quality and length of his life is likely to be very limited, and it is extremely unlikely that he will ever be able to walk or feed himself without the use of a tube.

“The fact that Gilbert was inconsistent in his accounts of what had happened that night proves that he wasn’t telling the complete truth, and his defensive nature rightly rang alarm bells.

“Gilbert’s actions left this poor defenceless baby with such appalling injuries, which have changed his life forever. I am pleased that he has received a custodial sentence for this.”