Dad bites seven-month-old daughter (Carlisle, United Kingdom)

Father PAUL WYLLIE bit his seven-month-old daughter on the upper thigh because of "frustration." At first he denied it, but analysis of the bite mark proved it was good old dad. So he finally 'fessed up.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/prison_for_carlisle_dad_who_bit_baby_daughter_on_thigh_1_575866?referrerPath=home

Prison for Carlisle dad who bit baby daughter on thigh
By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:44, Tuesday, 30 June 2009

A Carlisle man who bit his baby daughter and then tried to pin the blame on other members of his family was jailed for 20 months yesterday after admitting his guilt.

Paul Wyllie, 22, was brought to justice only after an alert relative spotted the injury on the upper thigh of the seven-month-old baby girl.

After hearing the sentence, police said the case showed the vital role that relatives can play in protecting children who may be at risk.

Carlisle Crown Court judge, Paul Batty QC, said the nature of the offence could be fully reported after ruling that it would be in the public interest to do so.

Wyllie, of Henderson Road, Currock, had initially denied doing anything wrong, claiming that it had been another member of his family who was responsible. But an analysis of the bite mark found on the little girl’s leg led an expert to conclude that the injury had in all probability been caused by the defendant, who admitted one count of child cruelty.

Alan Lovett, prosecuting, outlined how the baby had been living with Wyllie and the child’s mother when the attack happened. Wyllie and the mother took the child, in her pyjamas, to the female relative, who later in the evening noticed the bite mark on the baby’s upper thigh as she was changing her nappy.

“She confronted them about the matter and the defendant’s response was: ‘It wasn’t me.’”
At the relative’s insistence, the child was taken to a GP the following day. A dental specialist who examined the wound said it must have caused the baby considerable pain and made her cry.

Greg Hoare, for Wyllie, said that Wyllie committed the offence as a result of his frustration rather than any desire to harm his daughter. He said:

“He accepts that he there was a serious failing on his part. He how intends to return to Scotland. He has a new partner and intends to go back to south Ayrshire and have no contact at all [with the child].”

Passing sentence, judge Batty told Wyllie:“You broke the sacred trust which should exist between father and child because you were angry; because you lost your temper and for no other reason you did a brutal act on that baby.”

A police spokeswoman said: “This case shows the important role that relatives can play in keeping children safe.”