A FATHER who was convicted of murdering his baby boy has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

Daniel McLaren, of Fleetwood Close, Thatcham, was found guilty by unanimous jury following a two-week trial at Reading Crown Court on Friday.

During his sentencing on Monday, the 30-year-old was told he had broken the 'ultimate responsibility' by shaking and killing his four-month-old son.

Jack McLaren was left in the care of his father Daniel at their home, while their mother went out for a family meal on June 2 last year.

Just after 7.30pm McLaren called for an ambulance and when paramedics arrived they found Jack unresponsive, in a critical condition, and he was taken to hospital.

Young Jack died in hospital two days later.

Mr Justice Andrew Nicol said: "He [Jack] had his whole life ahead of him and like all children they cry from time to time.

"These are problems to which parents have to rise. What you did was inexcusable.

Reading Chronicle:

"Any parent knows that a baby's head must be craddled carefully. You did the exact opposite of that. You shook Jack which would have flung his head back and that in turn caused catastrophic injuries to his brain from which he died.

"A further serious aggravating character is that Jack suffered not just one, but two episodes of brain injuries."

During the subsequent Thames Valley Police investigation, a number of internet searches were made on McLaren’s mobile phone including “Serious symptoms in babies never to ignore”, “why is my babies tongue blue?” and “choking/turning Blue.”

The judge added: "This is a particularly serious feature of this case because it meant you had discovered what serious consequences could follow and yet you did it again."

McLaren, who was arrested on June 6, was charged in connection with the death the following day.

A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death to be from a head injury. Damage was identified to Jack’s brain as being caused at the time of his collapse and also on a previous occasion.

McLaren was also found guilty of one count of Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent. This charge relates to injuries to another child.

Detective superintendent Nick John, said: “Daniel was a parent to Jack and yet he abused this privileged position to kill his son.

"He should have been someone who Jack could rely upon to care for him with unconditional love, but instead he used physical force against a defenceless baby.

“By shaking four-and-a-half-month-old Jack, he caused him injuries on two occasions which the little boy was ultimately unable to survive.

"Following the first incident, the internet searches he made indicated he knew his actions – shaking a baby – would cause him serious harm.

“His actions have deprived Jack’s mother, and all those who knew and loved him, of having him in their lives and being able to see him grow up. Our thoughts remain with them.”

McLaren was given a sentence of 22 years for murder and seven years for GBH, with the sentences set to run concurrently.

He will serve 20 years and 236 days in custody, having spent time in custody during the proceedings.

The judge was concerned by McLaren's previous convictions, which included 10 incidents of battery and another of wounding.