A FATHER whose baby drowned in the bath at home in Tenbury Wells has admitted he changed his story in court.

Wayne Dale initially told police and social services that he had known his partner Lisa Passey was outside in the garden at their then home in Kyreside.

But he changed his story when he gave evidence to a jury at Worcester Crown Court and cross-examined by Jonas Hankin, prosecuting, the 44-year-old admitted he had lied in his original interviews.

He said he had broken down to his family and they had told him to tell the truth. He told the jury he had thought Passey was upstairs in the bathroom and he had not checked to make sure she was there.

He had gone downstairs where a friend, Jeanette Morgan, was visiting and smoked a cigarette before burning music on to a CD at his computer, leaving 13-month-old Kian in the bath.

He said he had not been trying to help himself but had thought he was protecting Passey.

Dale, now of no fixed address, and 28-year-old Passey, of Kyreside, both deny manslaughter due to gross negligence.

The jury has heard how Dale found Kian submerged in the water on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2015. Efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Dale told the court he thought Passey had told him she did not want him to deal with bath time. He took Kian upstairs and then thought he heard Passey coming up. He went into the bedroom and then to the separate lavatory before going downstairs.

He said he had not seen or heard her though he was near the bathroom.

"I feel responsible. I should have checked him in the bathroom," he said. "I love Lisa with all my heart and I am not going to blame her."

Mr Hankin said Dale had tried to give the "false impression" that he was a man devoted to family above all but he had been convicted of two counts of criminal damage at the home of a former partner in Malvern. He agreed he was also convicted of battery against his former partner.

Dale said he had left Kian in a safety seat in the bath but he had not seen a sign on it warning of the danger of drowning and stating that the baby should always be kept within arm's reach.

The trial continues.