A couple who killed their baby when they gave him heroin to stop him crying have been jailed for five years.

Heroin addict Amanda Turner, 23, and partner Joby Shorter, 24, gave a massive dose of the drug to one-month-old Justice at their home in Hastings.

When they realised he had died they bundled his tiny body into a duffle bag packed with ice and put it in the boot of a car.

Social workers had visited Justice 17 times, yet failed to prevent his death in February last year.

Agencies were also aware of domestic violence at the couple's home and that Shorter, who was not the baby's father, had been charged with assaulting Turner.

The couple were jailed for five years each at Lewes Crown Court yesterday after a murder trial was halted when they admitted manslaughter.

Justice had been given enough heroin, either in a bottle or smeared on his mouth, to kill an adult.

The jury had watched video evidence showing the couple's flat in Stonehouse Drive in squalid conditions with rubbish and food strewn over the floor.

The court heard Turner was a heroin addict and was thought to have turned to prostitution in the past to feed her habit.

She wept as she was jailed while Shorter, standing beside her, showed little emotion.

Elizabeth Marsh QC, defending Turner, said: "This will live with her forever."

Michael Lawson QC, defending Shorter, said: "She could not tolerate his violence although it's clear it was not one-sided.

"He could not tolerate her use of drugs, nor did he find it easy to stay at home for hours when she disappeared in her glad rags for whatever reason.

"On many levels they loved their child but failed to fully understand the nature of parentage."

Jailing them, Mr Justice Moses said: "No sentence that I pass can bring back the life of that baby.

"I have no doubt what happened to Justice was a direct result of a lifestyle, attitude and inability to behave as parents.

"Many parents suffer from loss of sleep but few parents, thankfully, go to the lengths of administering drugs."

Justice had been placed on the Child Protection Register and received regular visits from agencies including social services, a GP and Sussex Police.

All the agencies said there had been no evidence the baby was being abused.

Social services had decided to seek an interim care order requesting the mother and baby move into residential accommodation.

But it came too late for Justice - known as JJ - and police were informed of his death the day before the planned hearing.

A statement from East Sussex County Council said: "This is a very sad and tragic case. Justice's death was sudden and unpredictable.

"Justice was seen on 17 occasions in the 24 days he was at home. In that time he was routinely examined. Throughout the checks by the agencies involved, the child showed no signs of physical abuse or neglect.

"Even at the post-mortem, there were no visible signs of abuse."