BRAIN injuries sustained by a baby allegedly shaken by its dad were not the result of an accident, a court heard.

Prosecutors claim Luke Lock, pictured, is responsible for inflicting a catalogue of injuries including broken ribs, more than 20 bruises and haemorrhaging in the eyes on the little boy.

A specialist brain doctor told Southampton Crown Court yesterday she found five times more fluid on the brain than there should have been, and is certain the damage had been caused intentionally.

“In an infant of this age, with no history of trauma, this must be a non-accidental injury,” said consultant paediatric neurologist, Professor Fenella Kirkham.

“There’s obviously quite a delicate discrimination between carelessness and grievous bodily harm, but I think there is an important distinction and once we have other injuries, not just to the brain, we’re looking at grievous bodily harm.”

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just five-and-a-half months old when he was detained in Southampton General Hospital in April last year, after being taken in for treatment by his mother, Charmain Rippon.

In court yesterday, jurors left their seats to study TV screens showing the images produced from two brains scans ordered by doctors at the time on the baby. “There was a collection of fluid over the brain that should not have been there,” Prof Kirkham told them.

Under cross-examination from Lock’s barrister, Nigel Pascoe QC, she added she was satisfied that all possible alternative explanations for the bleeding had been investigated and discounted.

Lock, 21, of Albert Road South, Southampton, has pleaded not guilty two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, causing actual bodily harm and child cruelty. His former partner Rippon, 23, of Wavell Road, Bitterne, Southampton, denies two charges of child cruelty through neglect and exposing a baby to unnecessary suffering.

Proceeding.