Stephen Craine, 46, was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Northampton Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm against four-week old Isabelle Craine in May last year. She is now disabled, with brain damage, and will never recover.

Craine previously denied the charge, as well as two other counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and cruelty to a person under 16.

But at a hearing in November, he admitted shaking her and causing injuries which mean she is now disabled and will be totally dependant for the rest of her life.

Sonia Woolley QC, prosecuting, said: "The prognosis for Isabelle is not clear but extremely poor. She will never see, speak nor walk, she has severe difficulty understanding, problems with posture and language, epilepsy and is severely disabled which means she will never lead an independent life and will always be dependant on other people."

Craine had called an ambulance to the home he shared with partner Angelica De Bruin in Chatsworth Drive, Wellingborough, at 4.46am on May 20, saying his daughter was having trouble breathing and was bleeding from the nose.

Tests later revealed she had suffered brain haemmorhage consistent with her being shaken.

The court heard that Craine was now estranged from his partner who has since returned to Holland with Isabelle and their son Robert.

Judge Peter Morrell, who expressed sympathy for Isabelle and her mother, said: "The defendant recognised there was a risk injury would result from his actions but not necessarily injury which did result and in acknowledging that risk, he acted anyway."

He sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with up to £5,000 costs.

Passing sentence, the judge added: "I have to ask myself whether the degree of culpability should outweigh the degree of harm you caused.

"In my judgement, what you did that night was as a result of panic.

"Any fair-minded member of the public sitting where I am sitting now would think it unjust to send you to prison."