A man who shook his baby to death and then blamed his wife was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today.

Lady Dorrian accepted that Gareth Harries, who pled guilty to the culpable homicide of his baby daughter on the 24th November 2006 in Lossiemouth, spared his wife the trauma of giving evidence, but rebuked Harries for his earlier attempts to incriminate his wife in the child's death.

"I recognise that by pleading you have spared the need for your wife to give evidence which would clearly have been traumatic for her," she said.

"However, it reflects very sadly on you that you waited until this stage to do so and even worse that you previously maintained a defence of incrimination, blaming your wife for the death of her own child, which must have made the traumatic effect of the child’s death even worse for her."

Harries was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment.

Grampian Police took the unusual step of issuing a highly critical personal attack on Harries following his conviction. Detective Inspector Matt MacKay said: "I am satisfied that justice has been done for Chloe's mother and other members of her family who continue to be in our thoughts. "This was a deeply disturbing and tragic crime perpetrated by a highly manipulative person who was prepared to lie to cover up his actions.

''Gareth Harries attempted to manipulate and illicit information from medical staff and the witnesses in order to minimise his role in the shocking circumstances which led to the death of Chloe.

"From the moment the authorities were alerted to Chloe's injuries, Gareth Harries attempted to cover his tracks with lie after lie. He alone was responsible for the terrible injuries suffered by Chloe.

''The Grampian Police officers involved in this case were deeply upset by the circumstances that led to the appalling fate suffered by Chloe at the hands of Harries. It is testament to their dedication and professionalism and close working with the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service that this matter reached a successful conclusion."

Lady Dorrian's statement as read out in Court can be read below.

“You have pled guilty to the culpable homicide of your baby daughter by shaking. It is clear from the medical evidence that significant force must have been used to cause the child’s death, and this is a factor I must take into account in proceeding to sentence you, namely that you used such force on a helpless baby. The consequences of that will be with you for the rest of your life.

I recognise that by pleading you have spared the need for your wife to give evidence which would clearly have been traumatic for her. However, it reflects very sadly on you that you waited until this stage to do so and even worse that you previously maintained a defence of incrimination, blaming your wife for the death of her own child, which must have made the traumatic effect of the child’s death even worse for her.

However, I take into account that you have expressed deep and genuine remorse, that you had no intent to harm the child you loved, that you have hitherto had an unblemished record and that you are assessed at the lowest level of risk for re-offending.

Nevertheless I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. But for your plea of guilty the sentence would have been one of 8 years. As a result of the plea I will reduce that to 6 years and 8 months and backdate the sentence to 12th June 2008”.