A doting dad who shook his ten-week-old baby to death is starting a five-year jail sentence.

Terry Sobey, 33, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of son Samuel after a charge of murder was dropped.

Sobey, who suffered from clinical depression, said he remembered becoming tired and exhausted because the baby would not stop crying.

He then picked up Samuel and momentarily lost control as he shook the child.

Despite later attempts to revive him, the boy died from various injuries in Basildon Hospital, said Patricia Lynch QC, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Miss Lynch told how Sobey's girlfriend Sharon Hook gave birth to Samuel in the spring of 1997.

But the mother, who has two other children, found she could not cope with three youngsters and moved into her own property.

Sobey had custody of Samuel and was helped with caring for him by his elderly parents who frequently visited his flat in Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary, Grays.

There was no cause for any complaint about the baby's progress from Sobey's doctor, health visitors or midwife, said Miss Lynch.

But the baby suddenly developed a chest infection which possibly caused him to cry a lot.

It became too much for Sobey who shook the child until his tiny body became "floppy," said Miss Lynch.

Sobey panicked and took his son to his parents home. When paramedics arrived Samuel was receiving resuscitation.

He was rushed to the intensive care ward at Basildon Hospital, but after further attempts to revive him he died.

A post mortem examination showed a trauma to the brain because of a blood clot. There were also fractures to his ribs and the top of his arms.

Sobey was arrested and was greatly distressed when he told police: "I wish to say I did not want to cause my son any injury."

In mitigation, David Evans QC said of Sobey: "He was a caring loving father who has gone out of his way to help others in the past."

He said the night he shook baby Samuel he did not realise the consequences of his actions.

Mr Evans added: "It came as a tremendous shock to him when the baby died. He genuinely grieves for the infant and was genuinely remorseful. He will carry the death of his baby with him for the rest of his days."

In passing the prison sentence, Judge Brian Watling told Sobey: "It is clear you loved this baby very much but you were not equipped to cope with him."

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