A YOUNG mother who killed her six-month-old baby by banging his head against a wall has been sent to a mental hospital.

Corey Raine suffered "extensive injury" and "multiple fractures" to his head after Sarah Allison, 19, attacked the youngster when she was suffering from post-natal depression.

Allison, who has since been diagnosed as having a "pyschopathic disorder", was led away to start a four-year sentence, yesterday.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Allison, who had been suffering from post-natal depression since the birth of Corey, on September 27, 1999, was unable to cope after her long-term partner was sent to prison.

Toby Hedworth QC, prosecuting, had told the court how the youngster was already on the "at risk" register, because of Allison's mental history.

The court heard how after the family moved to their home in Winsor Crescent, Houghton, Corey made two visits to Sunderland Royal's Accident and Emergency Department with minor injuries.

But a social worker had no concerns when she last saw the child on April 10, 2000.

Allison dialled 999 at 6am two days later, saying she had gone to check him and found no signs of life.

Paramedics, arriving ten minutes later, found he was dead.

Allison maintained she had done nothing to harm her baby, but a post-mortem examination ruled-out death by natural causes.

Allison was arrested and charged with murder. While on remand at Low Newton she confessed to the killing.

But the Crown Prosecution Service accepted her guilty plea to infanticide after pyschiatric reports revealed she was disturbed.

Judge Esmond Faulks warned her if treatment failed she would have to serve the rest of her sentence in a young offenders institute.