Man jailed after 'shaking' baby

The baby's sister told the court she had seen Loudon shaking the child

A man has been sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for shaking a two-month-old baby so hard it was left severely brain-damaged.

Donald Loudon, 26, from Newmains, North Lanarkshire, tried to dodge justice by blaming the child's mother for the horrific injuries.

Judge Ian Peeble QC said it had been an "wholly appalling" crime.

He said Loudon had taken his bad temper out on the child. The baby's mother said the sentence was not long enough.

During the trial, the High Court in Glasgow had heard how the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was examined at Glasgow's Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Andrew Watt said that scans showed "very extensive" and "irreversible" brain damage.

'Rotational force'

The child also had fractures to the ribs, legs and arm.

The court was also told some of the fractures were caused by "rotational force" of the limb or twisting.

Dr Watt said it would be expected the child would be "severely disabled" as a result.

He added that due to the bleeding on the brain and the fractures, it was "more likely" the brain injury was caused by shaking.

The court also heard evidence via video-link from the baby's older sister.

She described how she had seen Loudon shaking the child.

The mother also gave evidence and called Loudon a "dirty liar" for trying to shift the blame for the injuries to her.