New father jailed after baby's death linked to shaking

Peter Sayle pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for nine years and 11 months after his six-week-old son Huxley died; the court heard he had shaken the baby and medical examinations found brain bleeding and two rib fractures.

A man has been sentenced after his infant son died following injuries the court said were caused by shaking. The case attracted attention because the court heard the father had been struggling to bond with the baby and had expressed frustration at the child's crying. The baby, named Huxley, was taken to hospital in June 2022 and later died after treatment was withdrawn. The father, Peter Sayle, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter during his trial. Key facts: - Peter Sayle pleaded guilty to an alternative count of manslaughter and denied murder. - The judge found that, while in sole charge of the six-week-old, Sayle violently shook the baby as his frustration at the crying boiled over. - Medical examinations reported bleeding in the brain and two rib fractures; a post-mortem recorded a traumatic head injury. - Sayle was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to nine years and 11 months in custody; the baby died after life-sustaining treatment was withdrawn in July 2022. Summary: The court concluded that Sayle's actions caused the infant's catastrophic injuries and handed down a custodial sentence of nine years and 11 months. The Crown accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter during the trial. Undetermined at this time