Father jailed for shaking baby son

A father lost control and violently shook his five-month-old son, causing bleeding inside his skull, a judge was told.

Patrick Lawlor broke down in tears as a he was jailed for 16 months for injuring the boy, who is now 19 months old.

The Express & Star can today name and shame 25-year-old Lawlor, of of Howe Crescent, Willenhall, Walsall, after successfully submitting a legal challenge to a court order which would have banned his identification under section 39 of the Children and Young Persons' Act 1933.

Sentencing Lawlor, Judge John Warner told him: "You inflicted grievous bodily harm on a five-month-old child who was vulnerable and defenceless.

"Many new parents are pushed to their limits and you were undoubtedly under stress but there is never an excuse for hurting a child. Mercifully there was no long-term damage."

Harold Searle, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, told how Lawlor shook the baby and threw him onto a sofa before leaving him on his own for 10 minutes.

Three weeks later, the father-of-one took the baby to hospital with a gastric infection and doctors noticed bruising to his face, groin and hips.

Further medical examinations showed evidence of bleeding inside the infant's skull and behind his eyes.

"The defendant is over 6ft, and he threw the baby down onto a sofa from a standing position after shaking him.

"When he was interviewed, he admitted he had used too much force, had lost control of his parenting skills and wanted to shut the baby up," added Mr Searle.

Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said the infant was suffering from a number of health complaints caused by the damp accommodation, including a chest infection, and had been screaming for hours.

"The defendant lost self control and admits this may have been caused be a combination of lack of sleep and steroids he had been taking for his gym training."

Mr Woolhouse added: "He did take the baby to hospital and seek medical advice."

Lawlor, who has since split from the baby's mother, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.