A professional child minder who shook an 11-month old baby so violently that its neck "snapped back and forth" was jailed for three years today.

Keran Henderson, 43, was in a fit of a temper as she changed Maeve Sheppard's nappies in March 2005. The baby was rushed to hospital unconscious and with brain injuries. While she was critically ill her parents arranged for the child to be christened at her hospital bedside. Her life support machine was turned off shortly afterwards.

As the guilty verdict was read out at Reading Crown Court after a five week trial, Henderson, a mother of two, collapsed and sobbed uncontrollably in the dock. Before she was jailed for three years for manslaughter the court was adjourned after the public gallery erupted with outbursts from the Henderson's angry relatives.

The registered child minder, who ran her business from her home at Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire, was hired in January 2005 to look after Maeve by the child's parents, Ruth and Mark.

On the morning of March 2, 2005, emergency services were called and Maeve was rushed to hospital.

Doctors fought to save her but her condition deteriorated. Her life support machine was turned off two days later following a short christening ceremony.

Medical experts told the jury the baby's injuries could only have been caused by violent shaking.

Her neck ligaments were “over-extended”, indicating that her neck had snapped back and forth.

Henderson who had seven years experience as a child minder and was also a Beaver Scout leader, claimed Maeve had a seizure while she was changing her nappy.

Expert witnesses for the defence said the injuries could have been days, weeks or even months old.

Henderson claimed the baby had been regularly ill from the first day she was in her care, a claim Maeve’s parents vehemently denied.

Henderson claimed that on March 2 Maeve’s body “stiffened and jerked back” as she changed her nappy.

She said the baby’s eyes rolled back into her head, her body went floppy and she was gurgling as if something was stuck in her throat.

In the days following this Mrs Henderson said she gave up child minding.

“I wasn’t able to look after the children. I was basically curled up in a ball on the settee, shaking and crying, in total shock,” she told the jury.

The jury convicted Henderson of manslaughter by a majority of ten to two after deliberating for more than 12 hours.

Henderson’s family in the public gallery reacted angrily to the verdict.

The judge, Mr Justice Keith, adjourned the hearing before sentencing, adding: “I think the temperature in court is a little high at the moment. I think we should have a break for 10 minutes.”

When the hearing resumed, Henderson broke down on the judge’s return to court, having to be helped from the dock by a dock officer.

Her cries were audible in the courtroom as the judge said: “I don’t think it is appropriate to proceed for the time being.

“I want to give her a chance to compose herself. I want her to have the opportunity to make an informed decision on whether she is to be present for the last part of the trial.”

Sentencing her, he said: “Mr and Mrs Sheppard trusted you to look after Maeve. We do not know what really happened to make you snap in the way the jury found that you did.”

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