Man Who Threw Baby at TV in Fit of Frustration, Causing ‘Catastrophic Injuries,’ Learns Fate By Sean Neumann

A British man found guilty of causing his baby daughter “catastrophic injuries” after throwing her at a television last year has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

The ruling from the Swansea Crown Court came on Monday, Jan. 12, according to the BBC, the Liverpool Echo and Wales Online.

Rhydian Lynne Rhys Jamieson, 28, received the sentencing after originally pleading guilty last April, according to the Echo.

The BBC reported that the incident left the young girl with a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, extensive cuts and bruising — subsequently causing her to need lifelong medical care.

The outlet reported that the mother of Jamieson’s child spoke out in court, admonishing him for the violent attack on their daughter last January.

“You’re nothing but a spiteful, disgusting person,” said the mother, who was not publicly identified in court, according to the BBC. “The impact on my child will last for the rest of my life. I’ll never understand what you were thinking. It doesn’t matter how long you’ll get because it will never be enough.”

The outlet reported that Jamieson had sent a string of apologetic texts to the girl’s mother while acknowledging he harmed their daughter shortly after the incident took place.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” one of the texts read, according to the BBC.

“I’m scared. I think I’ve killed someone,” another text reportedly read. 

“I’m going to be on the news,” a third text said, per the outlet.

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While making their case for a strict sentencing on Monday, prosecutors told the Swansea Crown Court that Jamieson had “snapped” before violently attacking his infant daughter.

Jamieson chose not to appear in court for his sentencing, which led to Judge Paul Thomas KC calling him a “coward” during the hearing, according to the BBC.

“You threw the baby with great force at the television,” the judge said in court, addressing the absent Jamieson. “It was a fit of uncontrolled temper. You did not even bother to check whether the baby was alive. It was an act of the most horrendous callousness and self-interest. The child has irreversible brain damage. You have no remorse, no regret, for what you did.”

Jamieson must serve two-thirds of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to Wales Online.

“This was an appalling act of violence towards a defenseless baby — his own daughter — who had been left in Jamieson’s care,” Dyfed-Powys Police detective chief inspector Gary Williams told reporters outside the courtroom, according to the outlet. “We still do not know what made him act in this way — what made him ‘snap’, to use his own word — but even if he had revealed the catalyst for this vile behavior, it would in no way make it excusable.”