Baby left blind after dad’s drink‑and‑drug rage just weeks after he regained custody

Christopher Yates had managed to get custody of his child despite known alcohol issues

Christopher Yates did not seek medical assistance for several hours and instead went into the bathroom after the attack

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 ove

Christopher Yates, of Morris Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, only called for an ambulance 'several' hours after the attack and lied to doctors about what had happened

Christopher Yates, of Swalwell, subjected the seven-month-old baby to the kind of forces usually seen in a high speed car crash by violently shaking him