Father shook five-week-old daughter to death after losing temper while playing video game

Mark Sandland, 28, sobbed as he was sentenced for picking up five-week-old Aimee-Rose by her torso and shaking her during a sudden loss of temper.

He claimed he suffered an epileptic fit and came round to find his daughter underneath him at their flat in St Leonards-on-Sea.

Police who attended the flat after Aimee-Rose was admitted to hospital on November 5 2012 found a PlayStation game controller on the sofa opposite the TV.

Sandland was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of lack of intent, which was accepted by the Crown.

Sentencing him at Hove Crown Court, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said that after he inflicted the injuries, Sandland lied and sought to cover up his actions.

Prosecutor Sally Howes QC told Lewes Crown Court earlier that Sandland’s mobile phone internet history showed he logged on to a website offering tips on how to play Assassin’s Creed 3 on his PlayStation at 2.22pm.

The detail of the website, giving step-by-step instruction, meant there would have been little point accessing it unless the game was being played, she added.

Her injuries included bruising to her face, chest, abdomen, hip and lower limbs. She also suffered a range of other injuries, including subdural haemorrhages in a number of locations.

Some 16 minutes after Sandland logged on to the website giving tips on Assassin’s Creed 3, he dialled 999.

Mr Justice Sweeney told him: “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.”