Grandfather Mark Jones is jailed for life for murdering newborn granddaughter

Jones had also convinced his daughter that he had cancer

Gwent Police undated handout photo of Mark Jones who has been found guilty at Newport Crown Court of murdering his five-week-old granddaughter, Amelia (Gwent Police/PA Wire)

A grandfather who convinced his daughter he was terminally ill with cancer has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering her new-born baby.

Mark Jones, 45, from Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, south Wales, brutally attacked baby Amelia when she was just five-weeks-old, while he was babysitting for his daughter Sarah Jones, 26.

Experts believe Jones violently shook Amelia and struck her on the head, as doctors said she suffered catastrophic bleeding to the brain, fractures to the skill, rubs, and leg. She died in hospital 48 hours after the horrific attack in November 2012, having lived for only 41 days.

Sarah Jones outside Newport Crown Court after her father Mark Jones was found guilty of murdering baby Amelia (Image: PA Wire) (Benjamin Wright/PA Wire)

The court also heard that Jones was a serial liar, and initially attempted to blame his other grandchildren for the baby’s death.

Prior to the attack, he had tricked his daughter into believing he had cancer by sticking plastic tubes to his chest and hobbling on a crutch.

After police re-arrested him, Mr Jones told police that Amelia's death was a tragic accident, and said he had dropped her on two separate nights.

In an impact statement, Ms Jones said her father had destroyed her life, given his other grandchildren nightmares.

She said that one of them had asked: “If granddad gets out of prison, will we have to move? I'm afraid he will come and kill me next.”

Amelia’s short life now feels like a dream, Ms Jones said, adding her father's betrayal has left her unable to trust anyone. She said he is now dead to her.

As the police investigated her baby’s death, the social services also removed her other children as she tried to mourn the sudden loss of her newborn baby.

“My other three were taken away from me and I did not see them for another three weeks after Amelia had died.

"I was even arrested, accused of killing Amelia. My life had been destroyed," she said.

She also made the heart-breaking admission that she was constantly haunted by thoughts of what her daughter would look like now, what colour her hair would be and what her personality would be like.

Amelia's father Ian Skillern said in a statement that his daughter's death had also devastated him.

Judge Wyn Williams said Jones had shown no remorse for his "wicked and despicable" actions, as he sentenced him to serve a minimum of 25 years of his life sentence.

Additional reporting by PA