Father jailed for smothering son

The court heard McIntyre was a "controlling, if adoring" father

A man who smothered his two-year-old son and then tried to kill himself has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Andrew McIntyre of Winstanley Drive, Leicester, killed son Leon then slashed his own wrists and took an overdose of pills, Leicester Crown Court heard.

The 39-year-old, who admitted murder, said he killed the boy because the child's mother could not cope on her own.

Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced him to a minimum of 16 years.

McIntyre, who suffered from depression and is an ex-cannabis user, was having paranoid thoughts in the days before Leon's death in October last year.

He had stopped taking his medication and was drinking heavily, the court was told.

I have to take into account that there are aspects of your mental health that do impinge on this case Judge Michael Pert

McIntyre had split up with Leon's mother, Marie Tuckey, but had been allowed to stay at their house.

The prosecution said the couple were on good terms, McIntyre had been "positive" about the future and Miss Tuckey had no reason to think her son was in danger.

But after his failed suicide bid, he woke Miss Tuckey and "calmly" told her what he had done, the court heard.

In a letter read out to court, McIntyre said what he had done "still hasn't sunk in".

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Pert told McIntyre: "An aggravating factor is that your victim was a defenceless child.

"I have to take into account that there are aspects of your mental health that do impinge on this case."

In a statement issued by Leicestershire Constabulary outside court, Miss Tuckey said: "I can't begin to say how hard it is to wake up every day knowing that my little man, Leon, is not here with me any more.

"Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting my bundle of joy will miss his happy smile and his lovely blue eyes. My life will never be full again."