A SADISTIC father who tortured his son to death was a known risk to children. But authorities failed to take his baby away - until it was too late.

As Paul O'Neil began a minimum 22-year jail term last night for murdering his baby son, Aaron, it emerged that social services and health staff had known he posed a risk to children but did little to intervene.

Social services had looked into the jobless father-of-six's violent past in May 2004, nine months before he killed his three-month-old son.

They completed an initial child protection assessment "because of concerns raised in relation to father's capacity for violent behaviour and the risks he may present to the mother and her unborn child".

But not enough was done to ensure that Aaron was protected from his sadistic father, who had been physically violent to his former partners and abusive to his five other children.

Instead, the baby went on to die a horrible death after 92 miserable days of life. When doctors examined him they found 37 visible injuries, including burns, bruises and abrasions.

The revelations are contained in a report ordered by Newcastle social services following the tragedy.

Last night, the Government faced calls to order an independent inquiry into the case.

As O'Neil - who pushed his son's face against a gas fire before beating him to death - was jailed for murder, grievous bodily harm and child cruelty, officials admitted social services had failed in its duty of care.

A judge at Newcastle Crown Court recommended that O'Neil, 33, of Banbury Road, Kenton, Newcastle, should not be recommended for parole for at least 22 years.

He had abused Aaron because he was jealous of the attention the baby received from his mother, Jodie Taylor.

Taylor, who did nothing to save Aaron from his father, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting child cruelty.

X-rays showed that during Aaron's short life he had suffered numerous other injuries, including a fractured collar bone, rib fractures, three skull fractures and fractured legs. He also had serious burns caused by being held against a gas fire for up to ten seconds, on more than one occasion.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Harvey, who was in charge of the case, said: "Paul O'Neil has been found guilty of unforgivable acts of cruelty.

"It's distressing to contemplate the unbearable suffering which Aaron must have endured during his short life."

The case prompted Newcastle North Labour MP Doug Henderson to write to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt calling for an external inquiry into the baby's death.

Mr Henderson said last night: "I have asked the Secretary of State to examine whether the agencies involved in Newcastle had applied the recommendations of the Laming Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie, and the subsequent provision of the 2004 Children's Act. And if not, why not?

"I also want to knew whether any lessons could be learned by other agencies in other parts of the country and whether any further direction should be given by central Government in this connection."

Among the key findings of a report by independent childcare expert Catherine Weightman were that "information sharing was insufficient to provide a full picture of the history and risk to Aaron".

The report notes: "Details were held on record by health and social services which identified the father as being a violent individual who presented a risk to women and children.

"Agencies were also aware of the mother's history of childhood abuse and recent offending history.

"Collectively, these records should have provided all professionals working with these parents with a clear profile of potential risk, parenting capacity and ability to protect a child."

Catherine Fitt, Newcastle City Council's executive director of children's services and chairwoman of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), said all the agencies have accepted these findings in full, and had drawn up an action plan to implement the recommendations fully.

Progress would be monitored by the LSCB and overseen by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), and that the action plan would be signed off only when all the recommendations had been implemented.

Meanwhile, national children's protection charity Kidscape called for a database to ensure better protection for children.

Nikki Kerr, projects manager at the charity, welcomed the report criticising child protection agencies in the case.

She said: "We had this criticism in the Victoria Climbie case and we were told then that everything was going to be different in future, but we keep on getting these horrible stories.

"After Soham, a national database was set up to ensure that information on those who abuse children was shared nationally.

"Something similar now needs to be done in the name of Aaron. We need a database where everyone involved with children, social services, police, hospitals, even schools, can place information. That way there can be no excuses."

A health worker who called at O'Neil's house days before Aaron's death, but got no answer, has been sacked and has appealed against the dismissal.