A FATHER who shook his baby son to death has been jailed.

Christopher Barnes was found guilty of manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm upon his ten-week-old son Harry in Midhurst, West Sussex.

The 28-year-old heating engineer had shaken Harry so severely that his neck was broken.

At his sentencing hearing, the judge Mrs Justice Simler DBE said it appeared he had “lost control in a moment of frustration, exasperation or anger”.

She jailed him for a total of six-and-a-half years at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

Ambulances had been called to Barnes’ home in Barlavington Way in the village on June 24, 2017.

Harry was taken to Southampton Hospital after collapsing and losing consciousness, where he died the next day from his injuries, having suffered a bleed on the brain.

Britain’s top pathologist Dr Nat Carey from Great Ormond Street Hospital carried out the post-mortem examination on the tot, and said Harry had been shaken so severely that his neck had broken.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater led the “upsetting” investigation and said: “Our investigation, with evidence from expert forensic pathologists, showed that Harry had sustained multiple injuries consistent with ‘baby shaking’.

“The evidence was clear that Christopher Barnes had become frustrated with Harry and had caused his injuries. Harry should have been safe with his father, whose duty it was to love and protect his child. Christopher Barnes’s actions have had a devastating effect on Harry’s entire family.”

“I would urge anyone who is struggling to cope with a new born baby to reach out for help.”

Mrs Justice Simler DBE said the tot suffered from bronchiolitis, making his crying louder and longer, and said Harry would remain uncomfortable after feeding.

In her judgment, she said: “After feeding, you said he would be uncomfortable, crying and wriggling and being tense in his tummy. I have no doubt that looking after Harry was harder.

“It seems to me as the Crown put it, you lost control in a moment of frustration, exasperation or anger, and shook Harry.

“This is a distressing and tragic case. I am sure that you loved your son, Harry.

“You did not mean him to die. You did not mean to cause him really serious injury. But you did unlawfully assault him causing his death.”

Following the case, children’s charity NSPCC said: “While the magnitude of what he did will no doubt weigh heavy on Barnes’s shoulders, the repercussions of his actions will have a long-lasting and devastating impact on a family robbed of the chance of watching Harry grow up.

“Babies can be demanding but it is important that those caring for them reach out and seek help if they are experiencing difficulties.

“At the same time it is vital people report any concerns they may have about the welfare of a child at the earliest opportunity as swift action could mean the difference between life and death.”