27 June 2012 Last updated at 11:54 ET

Jason Redgrave jailed over baby Ethan Hopson's death

Redgrave had said he did not know what had caused Ethan's injuries

A babysitter has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of a six-month-old boy from Cleethorpes.

Hull Crown Court heard Jason Redgrave had shaken Ethan Hopson causing severe brain damage while he looked after him on 17 December.

The prosecution claimed Redgrave, 25, from Grimsby, had "beaten and shaken" the child out of irritation when his crying interrupted a text conversation.

The jury acquitted Redgrave of murder, but convicted him of manslaughter.

The court had heard that Redgrave had been asked to care for the child by his then girlfriend, Ethan's mother.

Karly Hopson, 23, said Redgrave had helped her look after her son before and was "good with him".

Ms Hopson returned home on 17 December to discover a paramedic trying to resuscitate Ethan, but he died in hospital on 22 December.

'Doubly tragic'

Redgrave claimed he had shaken the baby after realising something was wrong.

Ethan Hopson died in hospital just days before last Christmas

Det Ch Insp Steve Hibbit, from Humberside Police, said Redgrave failed to explain how Ethan had sustained such a severe head injury.

"There were very clear indications that Ethan had sustained injuries that were not consistent with an accident," he said.

During sentencing the judge, Sir David Clarke, said: "The loss of a baby is a tragedy. It is doubly tragic when the mother and her family are left wondering what happened and that is the case for the rest of their lives."

In a statement, Ms Hopson said: "Ethan will always be remembered with a cheeky smile and personality.

"Never a moment goes by that I don't think about him or cherish each and every memory."