A BABY killer snarled a threat to the distraught mother of his victim as he was led away to begin a life sentence behind bars.

Jake Baxter suffered 27 injuries as he was shaken to death and bitten on the face by his mother's partner, 30-year-old Richard Baxter.

Yesterday, the boy's killer was found guilty of murder, at Teesside Crown Court.

As Baxter was led from the dock he shouted at his former partner, Paula Moore: "I'll see you later, Paula".

Miss Moore, 21, sobbed as a guilty verdict was returned at the end of the week-long trial where Baxter had denied murder, but admitted manslaughter.

The 14-month-old baby died from brain damage 16 hours after Baxter attacked him at his home, in Middlesbrough last August.

Baxter, of Hodges House, Central Mews, Middlesbrough, said that he had lost control when Jake would not stop screaming.

He said the baby had bitten his finger, so he bit him back to teach him a lesson.

Baxter had told the jury that he loved Jake. He tried to blame Miss Moore for some of the injuries, accusing her of dropping Jake as they had returned from a drink and drugs party.

Aidan Marron, QC, defending, had said: "There was no intention to kill here. There is clear evidence that he loved his child and all we can submit is that this has been a tragedy for all involved."

Later, Jake's mother, who had known Baxter for only six months, said: "I am delighted that the jury convicted that evil man who robbed me of my baby."

Detective Inspector Shane Sellers, of Cleveland Police, said: "In my view it was a murder, because the child himself had sustained 27 separate injuries, two of which were bite marks to the face.

"At least six of those injuries contributed to the child's death.