A YOUNG father who shook his five-week-old daughter to death in a fit of temper was today starting a three-year jail term.

The sentence was met with anger and dismay by the baby's mother, who felt that it was not long enough.

Andrew Ashurst, aged 22, of Formby Avenue, Atherton, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Leah Marie Aldridge.

Jailing him at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Morland said: "I am satisfied you inflicted the fatal injury on Leah when in a fit of temper by shaking her extremely violently.

"I sentence you on the basis it was an isolated incident of violence on Leah."

After the hearing, the baby's mother Janine Aldridge said: "Three years is not enough."

Janine's mother Lorraine Kidd, of Coniston Avenue, Atherton, said: "He has taken a life away and got just three years. It should be a life for a life.

"I don't accept it was a moment of madness. You don't get mad with babies. Abuse of children or killing a baby should not be tolerated."

Andrew Edis, QC, prosecuting, told the court that Leah was born on November 15, 2002, when her mother, Janine Aldridge was just 16 and Ashurst was 21.

The couple's relationship was difficult and when Janine was three or four months pregnant, Ashurst assaulted her causing a black eye.

They moved into a house in Blake Avenue, Atherton, two weeks after the birth. But on December 9, Janine told a midwive they had separated.

In the week before Christmas, Leah had become unwell with a cold that disrupted her sleep.

In the early hours of Monday, December 23, Ashurst took his child downstairs to try to settle her, but when he handed Leah to her mum in the morning, the baby was limp and struggling to breathe.

Leah was taken to Bolton Royal Hospital where a CT scan revealed brain swelling and bleeding between the brain and skull.

She was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury where she was kept in intensive care.

She was christened on December 23 and on Christmas Day, Leah's life support system was switched off and she died soon afterwards.

The cause of death was found to be shaking or throwing against a soft object. The injuries to her nose were consistent with gripping the nostrils.

David Lane, QC, defending, said Ashurst had no previous convictions apart from one for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

"He is sorrowful for the death of Leah which he admits was caused by him shaking her when he was very tired and had been drinking," said Mr Lane.