"Reckless play" dad pleads guilty to breaking infant son's limbs, ribs (Leeds, England, United Kingdom)

Dad ROBERT BOLD has pleaded guilty to "rough handling" or "reckless play" with his infant son, which lead to THREE broken limbs, and SIX fractured ribs. This pea brain was throwing a baby up in the air and catching him at an age of only 4 WEEKS. But Pea Brain won't be doing any jail time, so long as he keeps his nose clean for the next two years.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-39Reckless-play39-dad-broke.6016497.jp

Leeds: 'Reckless play' dad broke baby's ribs
Published Date: 27 January 2010

A Leeds father broke three of his baby son's limbs and six ribs by "rough handling" or "reckless play", a court heard.

Robert Bold, 27, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on his son when he was aged between just four and six weeks old.

Bold, of St Alban Approach, Harehills, Leeds, was handed a 39-week suspended sentence and 200 hours unpaid work

Philip Standfast, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how the baby was eight weeks old when his mother took him to see their GP on October 9, 2008, with a swollen foot.

He was then taken to hospital where he was found to have burst blood vessels in his eye and bruising to his jaw and leg, and injuries around his shoulder and spine.

Further examination revealed older fractures to his body.

Mr Standfast said six ribs were fractured and there were fractures to three separate limbs. He said: "It appears to be more than one set of events that caused these injuries."

Mr Standfast said it was thought the rib injuries were caused by squeezing the baby's chest and the limb injuries caused by a "pulling or twisting motion."

The court heard how the prosecution had accepted Bold's guilty plea on the basis that it was caused by "rough handling" or "reckless play".

Mr Standfast added: "It was not a decision that the crown took lightly and consulted for 28 days with the physician before taking that decision."

Judge James Goss said the offence was so severe it had to be marked with a prison sentence. But he said he would not impose it immediately, provided Bold committed no further offences for the next two years.

He said: "Offences of this kind understandably provoke in the mind of the general public a sense of horror because anyone entrusted with the care of a child is expected to exercise that trust by handling someone so young and so tender appropriately

"You therefore present the court with considerable difficulty."

Judge Goss remarked on a report into the incident that the injuries were caused by throwing the baby up in the air and catching him, as well as squeezing him while chasing another child. The judge said: "(The incident] beggars belief – and would beggar belief to any parent."

Richard Wright, defending, said: the prosecution's acceptance of his client's guilty plea is an "acceptance that the defendant did not intend or envisage any injuries."

"It is an acceptance of inflicting injuries on one occasion by way of rough handling."

He said Bold was now only allowed to have supervised contact with his children but his former partner was happy for him to carry on seeing them.

He said: "Not withstanding their relationship is over, she nonetheless trusts him significantly. She allows him to see the children and undertakes the supervision herself."

Mr Wright said a psychological report states that the offence is difficult to understand.

He added that Bold has no previous convictions, was of previous good character and a hard working man.