Baby P's father speaks of horror of son's death

Baby P's natural father was horrified at the knowledge that his son suffered months of pain, fear and loneliness before his death, a court heard today.

The father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said his life had become a "living nightmare" since his son Peter died in a blood-stained cot in August 2007, aged just 17 months.

"My only son must have suffered weeks, if not months, of pain, fear and loneliness," he said in a statement given to the Old Bailey.

"No human being, especially a child, deserves to suffer like Peter suffered in the last weeks and months of his life."

Peter's mother 27, her 32-year-old boyfriend and lodger Jason Owen, 37, were convicted last year of causing or allowing his death.

The toddler had suffered a broken back and over 40 serious injuries during a campaign of domestic violence, despite being on Haringey Council's child protection register.

Earlier this month, the boyfriend was also found guilty of raping a two-year-old girl. The trio, who face up to 14 years in jail over the death, will be sentenced following a two-day hearing which began on Thursday.

In his statement, Peter's father said the last time he saw his son was the weekend before his death when the toddler did not want to leave him when he took him back to his mother, the Press Association reported.

"When I returned him, I remember him screaming and shouting, 'daddy, daddy', so much so that (his mother) brought him back and I cuddled him," he said.

"I have to live with the knowledge that Peter was actually screaming for help. He did not want to go home as this was a place he associated with pain and suffering."

He at first believed Peter was a victim of cot death and only found out a week later about the injuries inflicted on his son.

"It is one thing to lose a child, but to learn that your child has been the victim of such appalling cruelty is something I shall never come to terms with," he said.

"I continue to feel angry about what happened to Peter. I can only describe it as total devastation and all-consuming pain."

The father said Peter was a "bright and bubbly" child who was always smiling, the court heard.

"He loved to be cuddled and tickled. He made anyone in his presence happy."

The hearing continues.