Baby girl suffered horrific assault

Previously healthy girl could be disabled for life

A baby girl could be disabled for life after she was shaken repeatedly by an Angus man.

Dale Thomson admitted grabbing the 10-monthold child and shaking her “to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life” at an address in Dundee. The High Court in Glasgow heard medical experts had predicted the previously healthy girl is likely to develop cerebral palsy, epilepsy and motor and visual impairments.

Thomson, 27, from Arbroath, also admitted assaulting a newborn baby boy in 2010 at a flat in Dundee.

The court heard Thomson was caught after he called 999 and said the little girl had “gone floppy” as he was changing her.

Doctors realised there was a more sinister explanation and called police.

He will be sentenced on October 12.

An Arbroath man has admitted shaking a baby girl, leaving the previously healthy tot facing a lifetime of disabilities.

Dale Thomson, 27, pled guilty to seizing the infant, then 10 months old, and shaking her repeatedly, to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life at a property in Dundee on April 1 when he appeared at Glasgow High Court yesterday.

It is unclear exactly what the future holds for the child, but medical experts predict she is likely to develop cerebral palsy, epilepsy and motor and visual impairments, among other lifelong conditions.

Thomson, who has previous convictions for assault and domestic offences, also admitted assaulting a newborn baby boy on October 25 2010 at a flat in Dundee.

The court heard that when the onemonth-old cried, Thomson seized him by his clothing, lifted him in the air without supporting his head and thrust him forcefully on to his lap, whispering “do you want to f ***** g sleep, what’s wrong with you” aggressively.

Thomson told police he had been “frustrated” at being unable to settle the baby and that he had “not meant” to hurt the baby girl.

The prosecution told Lord Burns: “On March 31 he was the sole carer (of the girl).

“The next day he made a 999 call, stating that he had changed her and she had gone floppy.

“He was given CPR instructions and later the child was taken to Ninewells Hospital by ambulance as she was having seizures.

“The accused was distressed and crying, and he was considered credible by the doctors.

“Various doctors were involved in the care of the child and further examinations showed the injuries were non-accidental.

“When the accused was interviewed by police he became progressively angrier, stating that police were corrupt and he was going to be charged no matter what.”

However Thomson later accepted his guilt, saying: “I know I have a lot of jail time ahead of me. I’ve got no one to blame but myself.”

The court was told he had a history of depression and had visited a doctor, saying he self-harmed and had suicidal thoughts.

Lord Burns deferred sentencing until October 12 for background reports and remanded Thomson, a prisoner at Perth, in custody until then.