A MAN who admitted 'rocking' his six-month-old daughter with such violence that he caused irreparable brain damage has been jailed for two-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court.

Tristan Dover, 29, of Hazel Grove, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to child cruelty.

Judge Michael Blackburn said that as a result of Dover's loss of control his daughter would grow up to be partially blind and deaf suffering from muscle wastage and walking problems. Beverley Lunt, prosecuting, said the baby, now 18 months old, was born seven weeks prematurely in 1994.

The child's condition was such that it required surgery in the first few weeks of its life with both parents being constantly at the bedside.

Dover was a regular soldier at the time and he obtained compassionate leave to be with his wife.

When the baby was taken home it proved to be very demanding and there were feeding problems, Miss Lunt said.

On January 20, 1995 Dover arrived home on leave and the following evening he stayed in with the child while the mother went out to a part-time job in a pub.

At 9.30pm Dover telephoned his wife at the pub saying the baby was not taking its milk and he was unhappy about its condition.

A doctor was called who advised taking the baby to hospital where meningitis was suspected and a lumber puncture performed. Later, brain damage was discovered which had been caused by "non-accidental vigorous shaking," Miss Lunt said.

When interviewed by police Dover said he had "rocked" the baby vigorously trying to get her to settle.

He explained a bruise on the child's forehead saying she hit it against the telephone when turning her head while resisting feeding.

Campbell Tait, defending, said Dover had never denied responsibility for the baby's condition which happened in a momentary loss of self-control.

He said Dover was extremely contrite. He had now left the army and his wife was divorcing him.

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