A MAN who left his baby son brain damaged when he shook him in an 'explosion of temper' has been jailed for 20 months.

The father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the little boy, was too ashamed to tell his partner he was struggling to look after him while she was at work, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to causing the five-month-old baby grievous bodily harm in June last year.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said the infant was left brain damaged after the man shook him and threw him on a bed at the family home in Skipton.

The baby was taken to Airedale Hospital and transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.

The man told his partner and the police the boy banged his head when he fell while carrying him upstairs.

Mr McGonigal said that doctors at the LGI were suspicious of the man's account because the child had no evidence of external trauma.

During this time, the man searched the internet to find out how long people were jailed for in grievous bodily harm cases.

Two months after the baby was injured, he told the police what he had done.

He said something had been building up inside him and he "suddenly exploded".

Mr McGonigal said it was too early to say how badly the little boy would be affected by his injuries as he grew up.

His sight and mobility were impaired and he was not yet talking.

The child's mother said her life unravelled on the day her son was injured.

She felt guilty that she was unable to protect him and her trust in people was gone.

Mr McGonigal said she was no longer with the child's father, who had left the area.

Robin Frieze, the man's barrister, said: "Notwithstanding his lack of courage initially, he feels great remorse."

The man adored the child and was tormented by what he had done.

He was not equipped to tell his partner he was having problems with the childcare, and he was ashamed to own up to it.

The man, who had no previous convictions, was looking after other children as well.

"He is of low intelligence and was struggling to cope with his responsibilities," Mr Frieze said.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: "This is an extremely sad and tragic case. There are no winners. Everyone is a loser."

Although mild force was used, it was enough to cause the baby catastrophic brain damage.

"Children are sacred and vulnerable and you knew, we all do, what shaking does," Judge Durham Hall told the man.