Man found guilty of killing six-week-old baby Alfie Sullock

A man has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend's six-week-old baby.

Michael John Pearce, 32, was babysitting Alfie Rhys Sullock last year in Nelson, Caerphilly, South Wales while the child's mother went her first night out since the birth.

Alfie sustained fatal head and abdominal injuries.

A jury at Newport Crown Court found him not guilty of murder, but convicted him of manslaughter.

Moments before he dialled 999 after noticing Alfie had stopped breathing, the defendant texted Donna Sullock to say her son was doing fine and that he could be trusted with him.

When paramedics arrived at Pearce's home in Nelson, Caerphilly, they found Alfie cold, lifeless and blue. He died four days later in hospital.

Pearce, who had drunk five pints of beer that evening, said he had "no idea" what happened to Alfie.

He is due to be sentenced tomorrow.

Alfie's mother expressed her disappointment at the manslaughter conviction, but said she was satisfied Pearce would be going to prison.

"Whatever sentence he gets will never be long enough for taking Alfie's life away," she said.

Speaking after the conviction, Gwent Police said:

Our reporter, Megan Boot, has been following the case. Watch her report here: