A three-month old baby who was left brain damaged after he was allegedly shaken by a woman from Rainham showed no signs of external injury when he was admitted to hospital, a court heard.

The accused, a 26-year-old who cannot be identified for legal reasons, carried out internet searches for “baby in coma” and “baby having difficulty breathing” after attacking the child, it is claimed.

She denies four charges relating to the alleged assault of the boy and one related to the assault of a second child.

The boy, who also cannot be identified, was taken to Romford’s Queen’s Hospital at 10am on September 17, 2012, and later admitted by the Royal London, after the woman raised the alarm.

This week, consultant neurosurgeon Pietro Ivo D’Urso told Snaresbrook Crown Court he ruled out “shaken baby syndrome” because the child had no apparent head or neck injuries.

He said a CT scan of the baby’s brain showed injuries that were consistent with trauma, but it was equally likely they could have been caused by infection or blood problems.

He added there was no visible damage to the head and spinal cord and the only marks on the child’s body was fingertip bruising to his abdomen.

The woman denies one count of cruelty to a person under 16, one count of GBH, two counts of assault occasioning ABH and one count of causing or allowing a child to suffer physical harm.

A 31-year-old Rainham man is accused of failing to call an ambulance after the infant had slipped into a coma at one point during the night of September 16, 2012.

The man denies one count of cruelty to a person under 16 and one of causing or allowing a child to suffer physical harm. The trial continues.