A HEATING engineer has been found guilty of shaking his baby son to death.

Christopher Barnes had denied manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm upon his ten-week-old son Harry at Lewes Crown Court.

But after an “upsetting” ten-day trial the jury has found him guilty by a majority verdict of the offences.

Britain’s top pathologist Dr Nat Cary from Great Ormond Street Hospital carried out the post-mortem examination on the tot, and said Harry had been shaken so severely that his neck had broken.

He died of the trauma to his head at Southampton Hospital.

The jury was told that Barnes had been alone with Harry at their home in Barlavington Way in Midhurst in June 2017.

There had been at least two shaking incidents in the moments before he died, Dr Cary told jurors.

He said: “In terms of shaking injury, this is towards the severe end of the spectrum. Most likely due to so-called shaken baby syndrome. The forces involved were severe and towards the upper end.

“To cause this sort of injury would be in excess of rough handling.”

Paramedics were called to the property on June 24, but sadly Harry died the next day.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater then led the investigation into the death.

She said: “This has been a tragic case, investigating the death of a child is upsetting for everyone involved, but especially the family of the loved one.

“At some time on 24 June, Harry collapsed. His heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing. He had suffered profound injury to his brain. He never regained consciousness and died the next day after life support was withdrawn.

“Our investigation, with evidence from expert forensic pathologists, showed that Harry had sustained multiple injuries consistent with ‘baby shaking’.

“The evidence was clear that Christopher Barnes had become frustrated with Harry and had caused his injuries. Harry should have been safe with his father, whose duty it was to love and protect his child. Christopher Barnes’s actions have had a devastating effect on Harry’s entire family.”

“I would urge anyone who is struggling to cope with a new born baby to reach out for help.”