A DUDLEY father has been jailed for life after murdering his baby daughter more than three years ago.

Philip Peace, aged 43, was caring for his daughter Summer alone on the afternoon of September 8, 2017, when he reported to emergency services that she had become unresponsive.

Paramedics arrived at a property in Heath Green, and tried to resuscitate the five-month-old baby.

Summer was taken to hospital where specialists battled to save her, but her life support was withdrawn the next day as it became clear nothing could be done.

During a five-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, medical experts told how they found evidence of injuries consistent with Summer having been shaken and then thrown against a semi-hard surface such as a sofa.

Her injuries included fractured ribs, retinal bleeding and a catastrophic brain injury, so severe that it had been the cause of her immediate respiratory collapse that afternoon.

After deliberating for three days the jury reached their verdict that Peace was guilty of murder yesterday (February 25).

Peace was sentenced today and has been ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years before he will be eligible for parole.