An RAF officer who shook his three-month-old daughter so violently that she is now disabled has been jailed for six months.

Cpl Adrian Boyes, 32, based at RAF Brize Norton, near Carterton, gripped baby Rosie around the ribs when she refused to drink milk.

The assault, in which the baby's head rocked backwards and forwards, broke four of her ribs and caused bleeding in the brain.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Friday that Rosie was left with spastic quadriplegia, disability in all four limbs, and seriously impaired vision.

Doctors said she would be severely disabled and unable to live independently. Her life expectancy has also been reduced.

Boyes, who had served in the RAF for 14 years, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Nick Syfret, prosecuting, said the child's injuries were inflicted between February 15 and 24 last year as her mother, Rebecca Boyes, slept.

In early March, Rosie became unwell and doctors confirmed she was suffering from severe skeletal injuries that were several weeks old.

Adrian Boyes was interviewed by police and admitted shaking Rosie when he had got out of bed to feed her in the early hours. When she spat out the bottle, he shook her at arms length.

Rosie was born prematurely in November 2000, weighing just four-and-a-half pounds, and was initially placed in intensive care. She suffered from colic, and was placed on antibiotics for a chest infection.

Annette Henry, defending, said her client had shaken his daughter "recklessly" after losing control for a few moments due to tiredness and frustration.

In mitigation, she said his RAF career had been exemplary, and he would be sacked if sent to prison.

Sentencing Boyes to six months in prison, Judge David Morton Jack said a custodial sentence was the only protection the court could give to small babies who are seriously damaged by adults.