A father who dropped or shook his baby son, causing serious head injuries tried to cover it up, a judge found.

The father was the sole adult carer when the infant was injured, requiring multiple surgeries.

He claimed during interviews that he was ‘too drunk to remember what happened’.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead brought the case to court to determine responsibility for the injuries, putting the child in temporary foster care.

Judge Richard Case said the father "engaged in a deliberate and cynical attempt" to avoid admitting his actions.

Slough Family Court heard the father's dishonesty during investigations was "extensive" and that the judge "could place no weight at all" on his testimonies.

The court was told he was caring for the baby as the mother was elsewhere.

A habitual cocaine user, he admitted to drinking up to 30 cans of beer a week.

He said he could not recall what had injured his son, even when it became evident that he was seriously hurt days later.

Penny Howe KC, representing the boy’s mother, told the court that what the man did was "unforgivable", as he unfairly cast suspicion on others.

She said that he was “too cowardly to own his own behaviours and accept responsibility”.