A JOHNSTONE thug who brutally attacked a baby from the day she was born – and stated "s**t happens” when quizzed about her injuries – has been jailed for five years.

Michael Finlay, 34, left his tiny victim with a fractured skull during a series of assaults.

Jurors heard how he shook the girl "uncontrollably," with one of the attacks taking place on Christmas Day.

Finlay is now behind bars after he was convicted of repeatedly assaulting the child to her severe injury and danger of life.

Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC handed him the maximum five-year sentence that can be imposed at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.

He told Finlay: “Your rage has cost you your home, your employment and your liberty.

“No-one who heard the evidence could fail to be moved by the plight of the child who suffered at your hands.”

The attacks took place between October and December 2017 at a house in Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire.

Last month, the court heard how Finlay would "lose control" and yell at the baby to "shut up" when she cried.

In his speech to jurors, prosecutor Mark Allan said: "Consultants say the injuries sustained were non-accidental."

Finlay, a carer for vulnerable people, had been warned about his handling of the child, who can't be named for legal reasons.

The baby's mum texted him: "You need to be careful, so she does not have any knocks like last time."

He replied: "I know."

The baby's aunt also sent him a message after noticing the child had been hurt.

Mr Allan said to jurors: "He told her 's*** happens,' in reference to the first bruise that was discovered."

Finlay was also said to have left the girl bruised on Christmas morning 2017 after he held her "too tight."

The court heard he inflicted "blunt force trauma" to cause the skull fracture.

He later could not explain where a lump on her head had come from.

Finlay’s lawyer, Gary Allan QC, told the court that he loved his job as a carer.

Mr Allan added: “Not only was he good at caring for vulnerable people but he enjoyed it.”