A dad who ordered his baby daughter to "shut up" before battering her to death has been jailed for life.
Jordan Lee subjected his four month old girl to a brutal attack that left her with catastrophic injuries.
He then told lie after lie about how Willow Lee sustained those injuries as he sought to cover his tracks.
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Willow died in Alder Hey Children's Hospital three days after being found fighting for her life at her home last December.
A Home Office pathologist found her death was the result of a traumatic head injury.
It was consistent with her having been forcefully shaken and it was likely she had suffered a serious impact to her head.
Lee, initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, claimed his little girl had fallen from the sofa.
When the severity of her injuries emerged, the 29-year-old developed his lies - claiming a second accident had unfolded as he carried her up the stairs after her fall.
Yet medical examinations uncovered bruising to Willow's ear, face and arm that the pathologist said was likely a result of gripping, pinching or squeezing, punching or slapping.
The expert concluded such injuries would have caused severe pain and suffering.
Just before Willow was injured, Lee had been heard shouting at Willow, telling her to "shut up".
Lee, formerly of Onslow Road in Blackpool, denied murder but was convicted by jurors yesterday following a trial at Preston Crown Court.
Today, he was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years.
Following his sentencing, Detective Inspector Mark Dickinson, of the Lancashire Police Force Major Investigation Team, said: "Willow Lee was a four-month-old baby who died at the hands of someone who should have protected her – her father, Jordan Lee.
"Lee carried out a horrendous series of assaults on his daughter, leaving her with catastrophic head injuries. These injuries led to her death three days later.
“Since then Lee has refused to admit his guilt, claiming repeatedly that Willow fell from the sofa.
"As the medical evidence emerged, he modified his account, claiming that another accident occurred as he carried Willow upstairs after the original fall.
"Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and he has now been found guilty of and sentenced for Willow’s murder.
"Willow’s mother and wider family have been left utterly heartbroken by her death and I have no doubt they will never fully recover from this horrendous loss.
"They have also been forced through the ordeal of giving evidence at trial.
"I can only commend them for the dignified way in which they have conducted themselves. I hope the result from court today gives them some comfort.
"Lee himself is now facing a long custodial sentence and I hope he will use this time to reflect on the damage he has caused to so many lives."
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