A YOUNG father has been jailed for nine years for the manslaughter of his two-month-old daughter but his partner had her nine-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months at Worcester Crown Court.

Tyler Vallance, now 21, of Engadine Road, The Oakalls in Bromsgrove, was initially charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of baby Isabella.

He was also sentenced to 18 months to run concurrently for wounding the child.

Jessica Wiggins, now 20 but 18 at the time of the child's death and formerly of Heathfield Road, Redditch, was given a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months with supervision by the probation service for the same time.

She was found guilty after trial of failing to ensure the safety of the child.

Judge Robert Juckes QC also made a sexual offences prevention order on Vallence, who had a previous conviction in 2013 for sexual activity with a girl under 16.

He served six months in a young offenders institution.

The judge said the couple had been given every possible support by social services and other agencies.

But matters came to a head when neighbours heard them arguing before a 999 call eventually revealed Isabella's death from eight broken ribs, two broken legs and brain damage.

The injuries, described as something akin to a car crash, had been caused by fierce gripping or twisting by Vallence, who was subject to violent outbursts of temper when he had not taken his medication.

Wiggins was described by the judge as "a remarkably good mother" but she should have realised that something was wrong when the baby was with Vallance.

Her initial support of Vallance had delayed the case coming to trial.