A MAN was convicted of attempting to murder a nine-month-old baby girl.

Twenty-one-year-old William Robertson launched a violent attack on the defenceless baby which left her with a fractured skull and massive bruising to her forehead and one ear.

The attempted murder took place at his flat at Jean Armour Drive, Clydebank, on September 9, 2017 while he was caring for the infant, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He claimed her horrific injuries were the result of a fall from a couch but medical experts told the High Court in Glasgow they were caused by more than one incident.

He denied ever hitting the baby and added: “I'm not a monster.”

Robertson also denied he was drunk and angry that night, although he admitted having downed a can of Dragon's Soup and some Mad Dog 20 20.

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He claimed he was prepared to undergo a lie detector test to prove his innocence, telling the jury: “I asked for a lie detector test and for a hypnotist. I tried to get on the Jeremy Kyle Show for a lie detector test.”

But, the jury did not believe him and found him guilty of attempting to murder the baby by repeatedly striking her on the head and body or by means unknown to the prosecutor.

Judge Norman Ritchie QC deferred sentence on Robertson for background reports until next month The court heard that Robertson ran to his mother's nearby house at 4am with the seriously injured baby in his arms.

At the Royal Children's Hospital the baby was found to have suffered a fractured skull and extensive bruising.

The child's mother, aged 19, said that Robertson phoned her to tell her her daughter was in hospital and added “He was trying to sound upset. I could tell it was put on by the tone of his voice. It was as if he was pretending to cry.”

The child, who is now two, has made a full recovery and attends nursery.