Sentencing of man for physical and sexual abuse of 12-day-old son adjourned

Injuries inflicted by a father on his 12-day-old son were similar to those seen after a high speed road traffic accident or a severe assault, Belfast Crown Court has heard.

In addition to the injuries sustained in physical and sexual assaults, the boy suffered a heartattack in hospital and had to be revived by medical staff, some of whom were left traumatised after treating him, the court heard.

The man (28), who is from Co Down but cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the child, has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the boy and causing him grievous bodily harm in September 2018.

Toby Hedworth QC, prosecuting, said the baby was rushed to hospital on September 30th, 2018 and was found to have injuries to his head, rib, arm, leg and hands. He went into cardiac arrest while receiving a blood transfusion and had to be recusitated, and spent 13 days in intensive care, the court heard.

‘A bit rough’

Mr Hedworth said the father initially told police he had done nothing wrong and claimed he had “no idea” how his son suffered such injuries, save that he “might have been a bit rough” while trying to quieten him. He said that at times he “didn’t know my own strength”.

The man said that while his son was initially unsettled, there “wasn’t a peep out of him” when he finially got him down in his crib until the next morning , when he noticed the boy’s head was swollen and he was having difficulty breathing.

Counsel said the defendant’s explanations did not match the findings of experts as the physical and sexual assaults occured around the same time and the impact on the boy would have been obvious and immediate.

Mr Hedworth said the aggravating featues of the case included the level of injury given the child’s age, size and vulnerability, the abuse of trust involved and the wider victim impact.

The defence counsel said nothing he stated should be taken “in any way to minimise the suffering caused” to the child or his mother by the accused. While it may be of “little significance”, he said his client had expressed remorse.

‘Reprehensible’

He said there could be “no excuse to maltreat a child” and that what happened was “entirely inappropriate and entirely reprehensible”, but that this was the first time he had been left alone with the baby.

He said the accused had no criminal record whatsoever for “violence or sexual offending” and had “no history of a paedophilic interest in children or of sexual devience of any description”. He said the abuse, both physical and sexual, resulted from one “single transaction” and that the guilty plea should be accepted as a mitigating factor when sentencing was considered.

Sentencing was adjourned by Belfast Recorder Stephen Fowler QC, who said he wished to review the case.