Mark Sandland Killed Baby Daughter for Crying While he Played Videogames

A father has been jailed for killing his baby daughter because she was screaming while he was trying to play a videogame.

Mark Sandland, 28, has been sentenced to eight years in jail after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his five-week-old baby girl, Aimee-Rose.

The court heard how Sandland shook his daughter during a "sudden loss of temper" after he became frustrated at the noise she was making while he was trying to play the video game Assassins Creed 3.

Sandland claimed he had suffered an epileptic fit and woke to find his daughter beneath him in St Leonards-on-Sea, east Sussex on 5 November.

Sandland had denied the charge of murder but admitted manslaughter when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court on 30 June.

After he "violently" shook his daughter, Sandland then switched off his television to hide the fact he had been playing on his computer.

Aimee-Rose was taken to Kings College Hospital, but died of head injuries four days later.

Upon sentencing, Judge Justice Sweeney said: "It's the Crown's case that thereafter, frustrated with the game and with Aimee-Rose screaming, you lost your temper and you assaulted her, gripping her torso hard and violently shaking her.

"Whilst it's impossible to identify the precise detail of what you did, the injuries that you caused Aimee-Rose speak for themselves."

Aimee-Rose suffered bruising to her face, chest, abdomen, hip and lower limbs and a number of haemorrhages after been shaken by her father.

Sweeney added: "Whilst you have no recollection now of the fatal incident, it's obvious that at the time you appreciated what you had done and in consequence lied and sought to cover up what had actually happened.

"You pretended on the phone that you had a fit. You turned off the television to cover up the fact that you had been on the PlayStation.

"Thereafter you continued to lie and cover up to those who were trying to treat Aimee-Rose - although I stress that they wouldn't have done anything different if you had told the truth - and to the police."

Det insp Jon Fanner, from Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of Aimee-Rose.

"I welcome the plea to manslaughter. The judge found there were significant aggravating circumstances and today he has been sentenced to eight years in prison."