St Leonards: Father Sentenced To Eight Years

9 July 2014, 14:43

A father has been jailed for eight years for killing his baby daughter after being frustrated by her screaming as he tried to play a computer 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 Church Road in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

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.

Following sentencing, Detective Inspector Jon Fanner, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: ``My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of Aimee-Rose.

"Mark Sandland denied the charge of murder but accepted that he was responsible for her death and has admitted manslaughter.

"In fact, he had a sudden loss of temper while he was looking after his five-week-old baby daughter in her own home.

"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.''

A statement issued by Sandland's solicitor, Gerard Maye, of Brighton-based Gerard Maye Legal, said: "He wishes to reiterate, once again, his sincere, deepest regret and remorse for the circumstances surrounding his baby daughter's death.

"No words can express the level of distress and anguish which he, his close family and friends have endured since his arrest.

"He would now, at this stage, hope that the media respect the family's privacy.''