A father who battered his baby to death and then tried to frame a group of youths for the attack has been jailed for five years.

Trevor McDonald, 25, left his five-month-old baby son with severe brain injuries after beating him in a flurry of punches.

Connor McDonald was found in his pram on the platform of a Metro train station by paramedics after his father raised the alarm.

He was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

Detectives launched an immediate search for a gang of youths after McDonald claimed they had attacked his son while he lay asleep.

Four youths were arrested a short time later, but released when closed-circuit television footage cleared them of any involvement.

McDonald was later arrested and the full horror of the attack was revealed.

Yesterday, McDonald was sent to prison after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his son, at Newcastle Crown Court.

McDonald admitted he must have carried out the attack, but claimed he could not remember inflicting a string of fatal blows.

Connor's mother, Caroline Wood, wept uncontrollably as the judge passed sentence.

The pair had been together for six years, and had lived together in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, for two-and-a-half years prior to the attack.

At about 4.20pm, on April 9, last year, McDonald called the ambulance service on his mobile phone, asking for an ambulance, and shouting, "someone has just battered my child".

Prosecutor John Milford QC told the court that throughout the relationship he had been "a caring and doting father" to Connor.

In mitigation, Paul Batty QC said: "This case was a terrible tragedy for all concerned. The defendant accepts responsibility for the death of his son, and that fact he will have to live with for the rest of his life."