An evil man twisted and broke the arms and legs of a helpless baby but would not explain why when quizzed by police.
Stephen Foster attacked the five-month-old child on two separate occasions, a court heard.
The 32-year-old, Millbrook, near Torpoint, Cornwall, squeezed her so hard he broke three of her ribs and later grotesquely manipulated her arms and legs.
Foster said he pulled the baby's left arm and pushed it behind her head as far as it would go, Plymouth Live reports.
He added he put the left leg backwards underneath her body and pulled her other arm behind her leg, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
One doctor told the court that the injuries caused were similar to what he would expect from an adult in a car crash or falling from height.
Judge Paul Darlow, who said the girl was "particularly vulnerable", jailed Foster for six years and eight months.
He said: “Your actions have been described by a probation officer as abhorrent and inexcusable and those descriptions are entirely appropriate.”
He added that a psychiatrist had also described his actions as “purposeless”.
Foster, of Insworke Place, pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent on September 15, 2018.
He also admitted causing grievous bodily harm without intent over the previous month – in regard to the rib injuries.
Heather Hope, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the girl’s mother called 999 because the baby was crying non-stop.
She added the paramedics were told about a leg injury but the hospital carried out a full examination after a bruise on her chest was spotted.
Miss Hope said doctors found a spiral fracture at the top of the femur, the thigh bone.
The barrister added: “She was in severe pain and inconsolable due to the injury.”
Miss Hope said the humerus or upper arm bone and a bone in her forearm were also fractured.
She added all three injuries required considerable force and could not have been accidental.
The court heard that Foster, who had no previous convictions, went to the police when suspicion fell upon the baby’s mother.
Michael Green, for Foster, said that the defendant handed himself two days after the baby was taken to hospital.
He added a psychiatric report had found no signs of any mental illness, but pinpointed “poor stress management skills.”
Mr Green said a number of factors had left Foster stressed, including work and family illness.
He added: “He has been open in trying to explain why he behaved in this way. It offers no comfort but he is a loss to explain whey he did what he did. There are expressions of deep regret of what he did.
“I will say, though this may be obvious, but I will spell this out: he is very aware going to prison today and has been aware of that for a very long time.”
The barrister said it was unusual for defendants to plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent whatever the circumstances.
