A SALISBURY father lost his temper and shook his four-month-old son so hard that the baby died from massive head and chest injuries, similar to those that might be caused by a major car crash, a court heard this week.

Joseph Wainwright (27) had been left in sole charge of baby Joshua while his partner, mother-of-two Katrina Drake, visited her mother in London for the day. But, just hours after she left, Wainwright called emergency services in a panic, saying Joshua had choked on his own vomit and had stopped breathing.

The baby was rushed from the couple's home in Salisbury to hospital, where doctors discovered Joshua had suffered a massive trauma to the head. Two days after he was admitted to hospital, Joshua died from his injuries and his father was arrested for murder.

Winchester Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Joshua, despite being born four weeks prematurely, had been a fit and healthy child and had been given a clean bill of health by doctors just one month earlier.

Gordon Bebb, prosecuting, warned a jury they must not be swayed by recent publicity about high-profile baby death cases. He said the day in question was the first time Miss Drake (27) had left Joshua alone with his father for a whole day. And he questioned Wainwright's version of events, saying doctors could find no evidence Joshua had been sick.

Mr Bebb told the jury: "We say the reason for this discrepancy is that Wainwright's story is false and he was responsible for causing the trauma that later caused his son's death.

"On the day Joshua was rushed to hospital, his father said he was fed in the afternoon but made a horrible noise and appeared to choke on his own vomit.

"He called the emergency services, who could not resuscitate the baby and rushed him to Salisbury District Hospital.

"The baby was given advanced life support but, at this stage, concern arose that all was not as it had been recounted by the defendant."

Mr Bebb said that paediatricians found internal bleeding in Joshua's eyes and head typical of injuries caused where a parent had "lost his temper and shaken a baby hard".

Mr Bebb added: "Joshua was rushed to Southampton General Hospital the following day and further evidence of him suffering a massive trauma was discovered.

"The defendant was arrested and repeated the account he gave to paramedics."

Joshua died on September 17, 2002. A post mortem examination revealed he had died from lack of oxygen caused by head and chest injuries. Further examinations showed a broken rib, believed to have been caused six weeks earlier.

Mr Bebb said: "In this prosecution case, you will hear evidence from doctors who rule out death by natural causes.

"Once you can rule out natural causes, you must then ask yourself, how did this trauma occur?

"We say Wainwright shook Joshua in a temper, which resulted in serious harm and later death."

The court heard that, after he was arrested, Wainwright, who is unemployed, told police that, after Joshua stopped breathing, he had tried to wind him by putting him on his front and tapping his back.

When this failed, he called 999.

Wainwright, of Pullman Drive, Salisbury, denies murder.

The trial continues.