Christopher Yates, of Morris Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, only called for an ambulance 'several' hours after the attack and lied to doctors about what had happened15:45, 29 Jul 2026A father left his baby blind and with catastrophic brain injuries as he lost his temper after drinking 11 cans of lager.‌Christopher Yates put his seven-month-old baby's life in danger when he shook him with so much force he caused the infant to suffer injuries similar to a high speed crash. The cruel attack was carried out as Yates was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine only three weeks and four days after the dad had gained custody of his son.‌Yates managed to get custody after finding out the baby was his son despite having known issues with alcohol. On the day of the attack in October last year, the baby woke up at 2am and was crying continuously.‌His dad then put him at arm's length and shook him forcefully five times, shouting "shut the f*** up". Yates then put the baby in his crib and went to the bathroom for an hour, wrapping a towel around his head to block out the sound of his son crying.He explained his behaviour was the result of frustration and desperation, Chronicle Live reports. Yates, of Morris Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, only took his son to hospital hours after the attack, lying to medical staff about what had happened and delaying adequate treatment as a result.Newcastle Crown Court heard the baby was born in March last year and was placed with foster carers before Yates gained custody. At the time, it was said he had "the best of intentions but underestimated how difficult he would find it".‌During the assessment and settling period, Yates' family were aware the man had issues with alcohol as he was drinking in excess. Two weeks before the attack, they formed the view Yates was struggling to take care of the baby as he appeared angry and occasionally intoxicated.The family didn't appreciate the full extent of the situation but did advise Yates to seek help from social services. Yates said he had expected more support from social services than he got once he had full and sole care at the beginning of September.On one occasion, a family member visiting Yates found the baby had not been dressed, the home was in disarray, there were dirty nappies lying around and empty alcohol cans indicated the father was drinking heavily. Yates was also heard shouting angrily at his baby, which he referred to as a "little s***".‌When challenged about his drinking habits, Yates said "I can do whatever I want". Yates had been struggling with alcohol and drugs since he was a teenager and was known for his "explosive temper" when he was drunk.He told his family he didn't think he could cope with taking care of his son and he might have to give him back. However, he didn't seek help from social services or the baby's foster parents.In a victim impact statement, the child's foster mum said he was with them from birth and "melted our hearts". He is now back with the foster family.‌The mum said: "If we had known what we know now, we would never have let him go. [Yates] was the one person who should have loved and cared for him."The woman added: "He suffered the most horrendous life-changing injuries at the hands of Christopher Yates. We didn't know if he was going to survive but he is a little fighter."He has lost his sight now and he will be on medication for the rest of his life. Christopher Yates has robbed this little boy of the life he should have had. He needed someone to look after him.‌"He has broken his brain, he has broken his life, he has broken everyone's hearts. All he had to do was phone us and we would have been straight there."[The baby's] dad, who was supposed to love and care for his every need, has caused these horrific injuries to his innocent little baby, who couldn't fight back. He has changed his life forever, and ours."He is our family, we love him and he is back where he is safe. We hope, one day, his sight may return. We promise we will never give up on [him]."‌On the day before the attack, the court heard that Yates had dropped the baby off with family members at the Metrocentre, asking them to look after the infant for longer than planned. He was under the influence of alcohol and had also taken cocaine when he later met up with them.He returned home with the baby and called the ambulance service to say his baby was fitting at 8.15am the following day. Once at the hospital, Yates initially gave medics one account of the events before changing it to say the baby fell out of a rocking chair.Once arrested, he admitted to being responsible for inflicting the a baby's injuries, saying he had consumed 11 cans of Foster's lager and snorted one line of cocaine. The full extent of the baby's potentially life-threatening injuries was only understood when a CT scan was carried out later, as the infant was initially treated for fits due to Yates' false account.‌It was then established the baby had suffered a bleed on the brain, was having seizures and had widespread haemorrhaging to both eyes. He also had bruises on his chin, a faint purple mark on the bridge of his nose, prominent blood vessels in both eyes and abrasions on his abdominal wall.For a time, doctors were unsure if he would survive. As a result of the injuries, the baby was left with serious difficulties and his life expectancy is likely to be shortened.Sentencing Yates, Judge Julie Clemitson said: "Only three weeks and four days after receiving [the baby] into your sole care, you admit, in the early hours of the morning, you lost control of your temper. You were under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, you'd had 11 cans of Foster's and a line of cocaine.‌"The episode of shaking is described as exacting the sort of force expected in a high velocity road accident. Yet it was several hours later you took him to hospital."Judge Clemitson added: "Simply put, the effect of this offending has been catastrophic." Yates, who has eight previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing a child to suffer serious physical harm in October last year and was jailed for four years.Judge Clemitson said: "No sentence can undo any of the harm and distress to [the baby] and those who care about him. Their lives, and indeed yours, are changed irrevocably and forever.‌"[He] will never live the life he should have lived. He is consigned to a life of narrow horizons and a life of being reliant on carers."This sentence is not intended as a measure of the devastation that is done to his and [his foster parents'] lives. No sentence could ever be such a measure."Rachel Hedworth, defending, explained Yates had been subjected to violence as a child and has mental health issues. She said: "He is unable to put into words how utterly sickened he is by his own behaviour.Article continues below"He was simply not equipped with the life skills to cope with the responsibilities of looking after a tiny baby. When asked by me why he didn't raise it with professionals that he couldn't cope with looking after the baby, he said he was terrified the baby would be taken from him."He didn't anticipate he would lose control in the way he did on that particular day. He is sad and sorry."