A YOUNG mother killed her six-month-old baby by banging his head against a wall while suffering post-natal depression.

Corey Raine suffered multiple fractures to his head after his mother, Sarah Allison, 19, snapped.

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

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

After the family moved to Windsor Crescent, Houghton-le-Spring, Corey was twice taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital's accident and emergency department with minor injuries.

Mr Hedworth said: "The defendant telephoned 999 saying she had gone to check him and found no signs of life. Paramedics arrived within ten minutes. She was dressed, calm and not crying, not upset. The paramedics found no signs of life."

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

The court heard he had intensive skull injury and multiple fracture lines, indicating impacts to the back of his head.

The Home Office pathologist said death was not immediate but occurred over several hours.

The report said: "The skull damage was too severe to be indicative of an accident, more a violent assault."

Allison was arrested and charged with murder.

While on remand at Low Newton prison she confessed to killing her baby. But the Crown Prosecution Service accepted her guilty plea to infanticide after psychiatric reports revealed she was disturbed.

Judge Esmond Faulks imposed an interim hospital order until Allison is sentenced on June 29.

Her barrister, Brian Forster QC, said: "She finds it very difficult to come to terms with what she did.