A father from the Black Country was responsible for injuries to his two-month-old son that almost cost him his life, top judges have ruled.

The baby, now one, was rushed to Sandwell Hospital last year. He had stopped breathing before an ambulance arrived at the family home and was only just saved when medics gave him oxygen.

Two months later, the boy was back in hospital after suffering bruising to several parts of his body, caused by “violent gripping” or adult blows.

Social workers from Sandwell Council intervened after being tipped off by hospital staff, and the baby boy was removed from his parents and sent to live with other members of his family.

Yesterday, at London’s Civil Appeal Court, judges ruled that all of the child’s injuries were caused by his father and exonerated his mother, who was out shopping for baby clothes at the time.

Lord Justice Wilson said the mother could not have been responsible as the boy was in the sole care of his father when the ambulance was called.

The father had challenged council arguments that the baby’s injuries were not accidental, and, although the parents are still living together, he had accused the mother of being responsible for the later bruising.

Dismissing the father’s appeal, Lord Justice Wilson said a judge who earlier considered the case had been “very suspicious” about the baby’s injuries.

The court’s decision on where responsibility lies for the injuries is likely to have a critical impact on future judicial decisions as to the child’s long-term future.