A MAN convicted of killing his baby daughter today told how he would never forgive himself for what he did.

Mark Stephenson, 30, from Cricklade, spoke exclusively to the Evening Advertiser from his prison cell as he waited to hear what his sentence would be. He said: "I'm not worried about the sentence because I will serve a sentence for the rest of my life anyway. I will never be able to forgive myself.

Stephenson was found guilty of manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court after violently shaking three-month-old Sacha, causing irreparable brain injuries. Sacha was left blind and deaf by the incident and died four months later.

He was originally charged with murder but the judge, Mr Justice Owen, instructed the prosecution to drop the charge to manslaughter.

Stephenson denied both charges, remaining insistent that it was an accident.

He claimed that in shaking her so hard, he had in fact been attempting to revive Sacha after dropping her while trying to change her bottle.

After more than two days of deliberation, the jury found him guilty yesterday. He was remanded in custody as the judge adjourned sentencing until the New Year to await psychiatric reports.

But Stephenson told the Advertiser he accepted the verdict and knew that he needed to be punished.

"I think the court gave the right decision," he said. "I have always contested that there was any intent, but I understand that I hurt my daughter and I must pay the penalty for that.

"I had a fair trial and in a way, I'm happy with the verdict, because I feel a lot of guilt for what happened.

"I used to think I was a good dad to Sacha, but now I don't see myself as a good dad. I've let myself down and let all my family down."

The former van driver, from Saxon Close, told how, when Sacha was born in July last year, he gave up work to look after her while his partner, Carolyn Iles, worked nights.

The couple split up after the incident in September last year, but Miss Iles told the court she thought Stephenson was a "brilliant dad".

Stephenson, who has been in custody for 15 months already, lost his fathe, Alan to cancer just a month after the shaking incident.

He said today he would not be able to start to grieve for either his dad or his daughter until he was released from prison.

He said: "I adored Sacha and I was taken away from her almost straight away after it happened and I've been stuck in prison ever since. I think it's only when I get home and reality starts to kick in that I'll be able to start to grieve properly.

"It has been a really emotional and difficult time for everyone. I only hope that people will read this and realise how careful you have to be with small children. I honestly didn't want to hurt her, but it is so easy for something like this to happen."