Father Shook His Baby To Death After Losing A Bet On Arsenal

Father Shook His Baby To Death After Losing A Bet On Arsenal

A dad who shook his baby to death after losing a bet on Arsenal beating Barcelona in the Champions League has been jailed.

Mark Lackenby, 32, lost his temper and took it out on his five-week-old baby daughter, Ruby, a court heard.

Lackenby was cleared of murdering his daughter at their home in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire but was found guilty of her manslaughter by a jury of 10 women and two men.

He was also found guilty of causing Ruby grievous bodily harm when he broke her ribs a week or so before he inflicted the fatal injuries.

Lackenby, of Bolton-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, had placed a bet on Arsenal beating Barcelona in their Champions League clash on February 16 2011.

The bet also included the London side's forward Robin van Persie scoring the first goal of the match, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

He had been left alone with Ruby while her mother was upstairs having a bath.

He become angry when Barcelona scored and lashed out at the baby, leaving her with injuries from which she later died.

Sentencing Lackenby to 10 years in prison, the judge, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, told him: "It's frankly despicable and defies belief that anyone could do such a thing to their own baby in such circumstances."

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