A father who murdered his 13-week-old son and tried to blame the death on a young child has been jailed for life today.

Mohammed Miah, 37, killed little Rifat, who was found to have had 38 rib fractures, eight fractures to his legs and a broken spine from being squeezed and pulled, at the family home in of St Leonard’s Road, Poplar.

The baby’s mother Rebeka Nazmin, 32, was cleared of the tot’s murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her baby and causing him suffering.

The pair were convicted at the Old Bailey yesterday and this afternoon Miah was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years.

Nazim was jailed for six years.

Jurors heard little Rifat had a deformed ear and hand and had been hit with the cord of a mobile phone charger and burned on a radiator during his short life.

After he died both parents tried to blame another child.

In an interview with police, the child said Nazmin had instructed him to shake Rifat and flick water on his face in an apparent attempt to throw suspicion away from her husband.

Nazmin said her husband had a problem with their baby’s deformed hand and ear, saying he might have abused him because of it.

She was heard to say: “He killed my baby. Tell his dad he has died, that’s what he wants.”

Giving evidence, Miah denied hurting his baby son, saying that children “mean the world to me”. He was cleared of cruelty to two other children.

Det Insp Ken Hughes, investigating officers, said: “We may never know why a mother and father inflicted such terrible injuries on their own small baby. Even if we had that knowledge, I am not sure we could ever understand. This baby should have been protected and loved; instead he lived with hurt, indifference and brutality. I am glad that these two have been called to account for their actions.

“While nothing can mitigate the consequences of this dreadful crime, I would ask any parents struggling to manage to understand that seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Early intervention can help a family cope and organisations and charities, such as the NSPCC, will offer both advice and support.”