Father's jail term increased for shaking baby to brain injury

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 18:09 · Archive

A Gateshead father has had his prison sentence increased from four to six years for shaking his baby son, causing severe brain injury and blindness.

Christopher Yates, 30, from Gateshead, has had his jail term increased from four to six years by the Court of Appeal for shaking his baby son with what judges described as the force of a 'high velocity car accident'. The incident occurred on 5 October when Yates, having consumed cocaine and 11 pints of lager, shook the child five times while yelling at him to be quiet. He did not contact emergency services until six hours later, claiming the child had fallen from a chair.

The baby suffered severe brain injury and is now permanently blind, with doctors saying he is likely to be unable to walk. Yates had gained custody of the child only three weeks before the assault, after the baby had been taken from his mother into foster care. The court heard that family members had raised 'red flags' about Yates' suitability, citing his heavy drinking, concerns that he did not properly clothe the child, and his flat being a 'mess' strewn with dirty nappies and empty alcohol cans.

Yates admitted causing a child to suffer serious physical harm and was originally sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court in July. The Solicitor General referred the case to appeal, arguing the judge had not properly reflected the level of harm caused and had reduced the sentence too much to account for Yates' ADHD, autism, depressive disorder and traumatic upbringing. Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, sitting with Lord Justice Jeremy Baker and Mr Justice Wall, said the original sentence was 'not only lenient but unduly so'.

How it is being reported

• Dad who shook baby has jail term increasedChristopher Yates shook his son with the force of a "high velocity car accident", a court hears.BBC Tyne And Wear · 29 Oct, 17:32
• Gateshead dad who shook baby 'with force of car crash' has jail term increasedChristopher Yates caused his baby boy to suffer a severe brain injury and is now blind after his cocaine-fuelled rageChronicleLive · 29 Oct, 13:47

In this story: Christopher Yates · Gateshead · Newcastle Crown Court · Court of Appeal · Baroness Carr

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