A father shook his eight-week-old baby daughter so hard she suffered brain damage, a court was told today.

Gary Johnson, 21, of Ruskin Walk, Bicester, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to his daughter Nicole, now aged one, in August last year.

He also denies causing cruelty to a person under the age of 16 between June 12 — the date of Nicole's birth — and August 13.

At the time he had been living with partner Jackie, 20, and her three children in Ambrosden, near Bicester.

Johnson is the biological father of the two of the toddlers, including Nicole, the youngest.

John Price, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court: "Nicole Johnson was a normal little girl until August last year.

"At 12.30am on Tuesday, August 14, when Nicole was only eight weeks old, her mother Jackie rushed her to the Horton Hospital in Banbury.

"Mother Jackie and baby Nicole were driven there by a friend. The defendant Gary Johnson remained at home.

"When examined at the hospital baby Nicole was found to have sustained recent, very serious bleeding in, and damage to, her brain.

"Doctors also discovered signs of an older less serious brain injury and that she had suffered recent bleeding to the back of both her eyes.

"They thought her life might be at risk.

"Indeed, the injuries have left her with long-term, permanent disability."

Seven medical doctors are expected to take the stand during the trial.

The prosecution alleged Johnson assaulted Nicole on the morning of Monday, August 13 after waking to her "screaming and screaming and screaming", as he later told police.

Mr Price told jurors Johnson was alone with the child in the couple's bedroom at the time of the alleged assault as Nicole's mother was downstairs preparing breakfast for the two older children.

He said: "Nicole's injuries were caused by an episode of violent shaking."

Later that day — after the couple suspected the baby was seriously ill — Johnson told his partner he had accidentally tripped over a pillow in the couple's bedroom while carrying Nicole and crushed her during the fall.

Ms Johnson, who answered questions from prosecution and defence counsel for nearly three hours yesterday, said she thought he had not said anything earlier because he was scared of how she might react.

Jennifer Edwards, defending, described Johnson as a caring and conscientious father, who loved all three children.

Ms Edwards said Johnson was nervous of handling Nicole because "he thought he was too big and strong to be handling babies".

She suggested it would have been totally out of character to deliberately harm the baby.

The trial — which is due to last a week — continues.