A DAD violently shook his 10 month-old daughter causing her to suffer a brain haemorrhage.

Darren Higham was described as an "inadequate father" when he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Bolton Crown Court today.

Philip Parry, prosecuting, told the court how Higham's 10-month-old daughter, Crystal Barlow, was admitted to Casualty at the Royal Bolton Hospital on June 23, last year.

Earlier that day, social services had visited Higham and the baby's mother Charlene Barlow following concerns raised by housing officers about the state of the home and the safety of the child.

He checked on the baby and spoke to the parents and left the house believing everything to be fine.

But shortly after social services left, Higham, aged 21 of Tavistock Road, Bolton, violently shook Crystal when she would not stop crying.

The baby was taken to hospital with convulsions, marks between her shoulder blades, bruises on her forehead and thighs, and a blue tinge to her upper lip.

Tests revealed she had suffered from a subdural haematoma - a blood clot on the brain. Doctors suspected shaken baby syndrome and alerted the relevant authorities.

The baby was placed into care and on a supervised visit, Higham spoke to a social worker.

"He confessed that he shook Crystal on June 23 after losing his temper," said Mr Parry. He was arrested on July 19 and later charged with GBH of Crystal, who has now made a full recovery and is still in care.

Jeffrey Samuels, defending, said there would have been no case without the confession and that Higham showed genuine remorse for his actions.

He said it was not an act of "wickedness" but one of "inadequacy," adding: "This defendant, in a moment of frustration, with a baby that would not settle for him, was unable to cope."