A GOLCAR boy who was left blind and brain damaged when his father shook him at just 15 weeks old is defying the odds.

Little Charlie Senior is putting his traumatic start in life behind him to celebrate his fifth birthday by taking his first steps.

And he has inspired children’s charity the NSPCC to launch a DVD for new parents warning of the dangers of shaken baby syndrome.

The youngster’s mum Joanne, 35, was told her disabled son would never walk after he suffered a bleed on the brain following the violent attack at their home in May 2007.

His father Paul Sykes was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting grievous bodily harm.

He was released on licence last April after just two years. He is now not allowed any contact with the family.

Joanne, who has two older children, said: “Charlie is fantastic. He is doing so well.

“We were told he would never walk but his school has been amazing. They have got him walking with a frame and he can even walk a little bit holding my hand. His speech has come on too.

“His eyesight, sadly, is the only thing that hasn’t improved.

“He is a happy little boy, don’t get me wrong, but we have all been given a life sentence. He will depend on me for the rest of his life.

“He was born perfectly healthy and he had that quality of life taken away from him.

“It makes me feel angry to hear he (Paul Sykes) is now out and is just getting on with his life. I have never seen one ounce of remorse.

“But I won’t let it eat away at me.”

Charlie’s destiny was changed forever on May 18, 2007.

The crying infant was being looked after by Sykes while Joanne was in the shower.

“I heard an almighty scream, but Paul shouted up to say everything was OK,” she said.

“As I was coming out of the bathroom, Paul was walking upstairs with Charlie in his arms.

“As soon as I looked at Charlie I knew something wasn’t right. He was grey and limp and not breathing. That’s when panic set in.”

Charlie was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, where it was discovered he had blood on the brain.

Doctors told Joanne he must have suffered some kind of trauma – equivalent to that of a high speed car accident.

He was transferred to the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

For the next five days he was kept on a ventilator while child protection police officers questioned Joanne and her then partner.

When he was allowed home, he was not allowed to live with Joanne for four months while officers investigated.

It took almost two years for Sykes to admit he shook Charlie, causing his horrendous injuries.

Joanne later discovered Sykes had previously been convicted and received a suspended sentence for injuries he had caused to his daughter – from a previous relationship – when she was just eight weeks old.

Charlie now attends Castle Hill School at Newsome – for children with severe and profound learning disabilities.

Joanne added: “I cannot speak highly enough of the school. They have all been amazing.”

Charlie’s story has now inspired the NSPCC to launch a DVD aimed at raising awareness about shaken baby syndrome.

It is currently being piloted in several maternity units across the UK to inform new parents about the dangers of shaking babies.

Joanne said: “If I can help by making one person just think about what they are doing before it’s too late, then it will be a good thing.”