West Yorkshire Dad Jailed For Killing Crying Baby

11 May 2012, 15:23 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A West Yorkshire dad who killed his four-month-old daughter when he threw her to the floor in ``exasperation'' has been jailed for five years.

The court heard Ben Smith lost it when he was struggling to feed her and cope with her crying alone after working a week of nights. His wife had been admitted to hospital with a serious case of shingles. 

A judge said he accepted the 34 year old had reached the end of his tether and acted ``totally out of character'' when he fatally injured baby Mia in December 2009. 

Smith originally told police that Mia had slipped from his arms and banged her head on the floor and was due to go on trial for murder but admitted manslaughter earlier this week. 

He made a statement through his lawyers which said: ``In exasperation I threw Mia down to the floor from a standing position.'' 

The judge, Mr Justice Lloyd-Jones, said: ``All indications are that you were a loving father.'' 

He added: ``I accept that you simply came to the end of your tether in very trying circumstances. This is a case in which you lost control of yourself and a case of lack of intent.''