A Clacton teenager has been found guilty of the manslaughter of his four-month-old stepdaughter.

David Sandiford, 17, showed no emotion as the jury of nine women and three men returned their verdict on Thursday after one hour and ten minutes of deliberation at Norwich Crown Court.

Judge David Mellor had earlier directed the jury to clear the teenager of murder and only consider a manslaughter charge.

Sandiford, who was living at the Chantry Hotel in Clacton at the time of the killing, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 15, after pre-sentence reports have been prepared. He had denied both charges.

The prosecution had said Sandiford, of Springfield Gardens, Upper Clapton, London, killed Cerise Clover in a layby in Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, on April 13.

At the time, the teenager was living with the baby's 21-year-old mother Rachel Clover at the Chantry Hotel in Orwell Road. She was in court as the verdict was given and showed no outward sign of emotion.

The jury heard Sandiford was on his way home with the baby after visiting friends in Northampton when Cerise died.

The court heard from a pathologist who said Cerise died of severe head injuries inflicted within two hours of her death.

Giving evidence at court, Sandiford said: "I loved Cerise. I never hit her or did anything cruel to her."

By Nigel Brown

Reporter's e-mail: nigel_brown@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.