Dad shook baby son and blinded him after 11 cans of lager and a line of cocaine

Yates had custody of the baby for less than a month15:50, 29 Jul 2026A father who violently shook his seven‑month‑old son after consuming large amounts of alcohol and cocaine has left the child permanently blind and brain-damaged.Christopher Yates, who had secured custody of the infant despite longstanding concerns over his drinking, inflicted catastrophic injuries less than a month after taking him home. During a night‑time outburst fuelled by drink and drugs, Yates lost his temper as the baby cried and shook him with such force that doctors later compared the trauma to injuries seen in high‑speed road collisions.Rather than seek urgent medical help, Yates ignored the gravely injured child for hours, retreating to the bathroom and wrapping a towel around his head to block out the baby’s c