A NANNY accused of causing the death of a 13-month-old baby in her care has walked free from court after being found not guilty of manslaughter.

Jurors returned the verdict after the judge presiding over the case told them he feared there was insufficient evidence to convict 47-year-old Linda Wise.

The parents of baby Isaac have now paid tribute to their son and said they must be strong for his six-year-old sister.

Miss Wise had been hired by former Blackburn and Great Harwood police officer Paul Rowlinson and his wife Lisa, a Chorley police officer, after Isaac had problems feeding following his birth in June 2006.

The agency nanny moved into their home in August. A month later Isaac was admitted to hospital after Wise phoned an ambulance, saying the baby was 'floppy'.

Isaac died 10 months later from a seizure.

The prosecution had alleged that Miss Wise had shaken Isaac prior to calling the ambulance, causing injuries which later led to his death.

But yesterday Mr Justice David Clarke informed the defence and prosecution, in the absence of the jury, that he considered there was insufficient evidence against the defendant.

Today the judge brought the seven women and five men of the jury into the court and told them he had been “greatly troubled” by the prosecution evidence since around halfway through the case.

Miss Wise, who has worked for the actor Ed Stoppard, Greek shipping magnate Philippe Niarchos and a number of minor European royals, closed her eyes as the jury foreman gave the not guilty verdict.

Mrs Rowlinson, 38, a detective constable, and her 41-year-old husband, a detective inspector, did not attend.

However, speaking before the verdict the couple, who live in Penwortham, said they would be focusing on their daughter Lily.

Mr Rowlinson said: "When Isaac died our world came crashing down on us. How could we tell our daughter?

”We were on the floor. If it wasn’t for Lily, things would have come to a standstill.

”Nothing can bring him back and that is difficult to accept.

”But we refuse to be grief stricken for Lily’s sake.

”We haven’t got him to hold, but he is still our son.”

Mr Rowlinson, who has Isaac's name tattoed in Hebrew on his arm, added: ”He was a little diamond to us.

”Everybody loved Isaac, everyone in the family, our friends and neighbours that met him, the medical people who came into contact with us - they all adored him.

”We said no matter what his potential was, he was going to reach it through our devotion to him.

”The moment you hold your baby in your arms, that’s it - the love is unconditional.”

Speaking after the verdict, Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Major Investigation Team, who led the inquiry, said: “While we are naturally disappointed with this outcome, from the outset this has been an incredibly complex investigation.

”We respect the judge’s ruling and accept his comments. Our thoughts remain with Paul and Lisa who, regardless of the outcome of this case, have lost their son."