{
  "id": 14122332,
  "title": "Police officer who assaulted his crying five-week-old baby sentenced",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/police-officer-who-assaulted-his-crying-five-week-old-baby-sentenced",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T05:01:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-13/police-officer-sentenced-over-baby-assault/107260662"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nickolas Wayne Peake, a 30-year-old police officer, has been sentenced to a 10-month community-based order after pleading guilty to assaulting his five-week-old baby daughter in Perth. According to prosecutors, the incident occurred at the family's home in Stratton last month, when Peake picked up his crying infant by her sleep-sack and shook her three times, shouting \"shut the f*** up.\" His wife immediately intervened and took the baby from him. Peake claimed he had no memory of the incident, stating it was \"a blur.\"\n\nMagistrate Paul Lyons emphasized that Peake's actions were isolated and out of character, but acknowledged the great risks they posed to the vulnerable baby. He noted that the defendant's experience of fatherhood was not unique, but stressed that physical violence of this kind is utterly unacceptable and must be deterred. Despite Peake's stressful situation as a new parent, the magistrate said his experience was common, and urged him to control himself and deal with the stresses of parenthood.\n\nPeake's wife had endured a complicated birth with her daughter, experiencing a 40-hour labor and blood loss. The magistrate acknowledged Peake's efforts to protect his baby by taking her to the hospital and being open with authorities. He dismissed Peake's application for a spent conviction to mitigate the impact on his employment prospects, stating that future employment would likely be difficult due to the significant media coverage.",
  "summary": "Nickolas Wayne Peake, 30, is given a community order after admitting to shaking his crying baby daughter when she would not settle.",
  "key_points": [
    "Police officer Nickolas Wayne Peake sentenced to 10-month community order",
    "Assaulted five-week-old baby by shaking her three times in Perth",
    "Magistrate emphasized isolated incident, stressed unacceptable violence"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The refusal to grant a spent conviction ensures that the officer faces long-term professional consequences for his actions despite his cooperation with authorities following the incident.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}