Evil brute who fractured newborn baby's skull weeks after tot's mum died of cancer told to 'rot in hell' as he's jailed | 57FJGPC | 2024-05-01 06:08:01
A BRUTE who was jailed after fracturing the skull of a newborn baby just weeks after her mum died of cancer has been told to "rot in hell" by the child's gran.
Callous Mark Tannahill, 38, made no reaction as he was caged today for four years after being convicted of inflicting a catalogue of sickening injuries on the six-week-old baby girl, leaving her with broken ribs and bruising to her neck, face and body.
The baby's gran today said the sentence wasn't enough and said Tannahill, 38, had shown "his true nature" when he subjected the helpless tot to horrific assaults.
She said: "He has always had anger issues but I never expected he would do things like this to a tiny baby. It's just disgusting."
The child was left in Tannahill's care after her mother tragically died of aggressive ovarian cancer in August 2021, just weeks after she was born.
But Tannahill's sick catalogue of abuse was exposed when the child's gran raised the alarm with social services after noticing unexplained bruising and blood in the baby's vomit in September 2021.
Other witnesses came forward to say they had heard the burly brute screaming at the child to "shut the f**k up" – but he denied shouting or swearing saying he told the baby to "shut up in a soothing way".
Sick Tannahill, of Crosshouse, Ayrshire, also tried to explain away the baby's bruised face saying she had got the marks from too much tummy time.
When his explanations were not believed, Tannahill then blamed the baby's gran and 14-year-old cousin for the vile assaults.
The devastated gran said: "I would never have let him near her if I'd known he was going to do these things. I wish he could never get out.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> "Four years is not enough. He should have been tried at the High Court and got more than that."
The child's uncle added: "If you asked me that sentence is disgusting. He should be hanging from a rope."
There were jeers of "f*****g rat" from the packed public gallery as Tannahill was handcuffed and sent down.
Sentencing him Sheriff Colin Bissett condemned "deceptive" Tannahill for maintaining his "complete denial" and trying to blame the child's family.
He said: "These are appalling offences. You have been convicted of subjecting a tiny infant to a series of assaults resulting in her severe injury and endangerment to her life.
"The horror of this offence is heightened by the fact that due to her mother's terminal illness and unfortunate death she was wholly dependent on you to protect her and care for her.
"You maintained this position at your trial, incriminating these women. No doubt adding considerably to the distress and anxiety they must have felt in coming to court to give evidence.
"Only you can know why you did what you did.
"You have repeatedly demonstrated your only concern is for yourself.
"This callous self-interest has only heightened the distress and anxiety experienced by those who love [the baby]"
Tannahill's lawyer Alex Muir said his client was of previous good behaviour having never been before the court until now.
However Sheriff Bissett said "There's nothing which mitigates these offences."
Prosecutor Fraser Alexander said: "In the 20 years I have been a criminal lawyer this is perhaps the most upsetting case I've ever tried."
More >> https://ift.tt/DRdvzFT Source: MAG NEWS
