A BABY died from “catastrophic” head injuries after being left with a young man already under investigation for causing harm to another youngster, a court heard.

Orianna Crilly-Cifrova, aged 12-and-a-half months, is alleged to have been swung “very hard” against a surface or struck with a blunt object by Jamie Chadwick.

Manchester Crown Court heard Orianna’s mother, Chelsea Crilly, had been warned repeatedly by social services about leaving her baby daughter with Chadwick, her then-boyfriend.

Chadwick, 22, who has a low IQ, had been questioned on suspicion of causing injuries to another child, the court was told.

Prosecutor Peter Wright QC said Crilly had left her in Chadwick’s care despite being warned not to do so. Orianna suffered severe head injuries and multiple skull fractures.

Mr Wright added: “It was an attack which was particularly violent. There was a minimum of two direct and forceful blows to her head.

“The injuries sustained by her were not consistent with any innocent explanation provided by either of these defendants”

Mr Wright said Orianna was picked up and swung “very hard” against a hard surface or was hit with a blunt object.

“This was no accident which befell Orianna that day,” he told the court.

The court heard at the time Chadwick and Crilly began their relationship in early 2019 he was being investigated in connection with injuries to another child.

Chadwick, of Cross Lane, Radcliffe, is accused of murdering Orianna on October 17 last year. Crilly, 20, of Warwick Road, Atherton, is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Mr Wright told the jury: “The risk Jamie Chadwick posed is obvious to anyone who stopped for a moment to consider it.”

He alleged Crilly had repeatedly lied to authorities, claiming that Chadwick was not having contact with Orianna.

“Instead Chelsea Crilly chose to ignore [warnings] and trust her own flawed judgement,” he added. The trial continues.