Father avoids immediate imprisonment after admitting to infant son’s fractures

A man who confessed to causing two fractures to his four-week-old son has been given a suspended jail sentence. The 24-year-old father, whose name is withheld to protect the child’s identity, brought the injured baby to the hospital in November 2022. Lincoln Crown Court heard that the infant had suffered a fracture to the right femur, a broken rib, and significant bruising. The man, from Lincolnshire, claimed he heard a “snap” and “cracking” noise after lifting his son’s leg while changing his nappy. A paediatric expert concluded that the leg injury required significant force and stated that both fractures could have occurred at approximately the same time with two applications of force. Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, accepted that there was not a deliberate application of force to cause the injuries but noted that the consequences for the child were serious. “He is obviously a vulnerable victim due to his age,” Mr Howarth told the court. “It is a grave injury, but not a life-threatening injury, and this is a breach of trust by a parent who had care of him.” The father admitted two charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and assault causing actual bodily harm. Defence barrister George Wills argued that an immediate jail sentence was not necessary. “Nothing I say is to undermine what is a serious offence,” he told the court. “The defendant entirely accepts what he has done. He is devastated.” Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told the father he must have used more force than he initially disclosed but accepted the injuries were caused by reckless, rather than deliberate, actions. The father was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He must also complete 240 hours of unpaid community work, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 12-month mental health course.