Leeds dad caught on camera slapping his baby and poking him in the eye
A dad who cruelly slapped a baby and purposely poked him in the eye with his thumb has avoided jail.
The 27-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the tot, was caught on camera.
He appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he admitted a charge of child cruelty.
It was heard that he had been changing the eight-month-old on the bed at their west Leeds home when the boy’s mother went downstairs.
He was seen to turn the child over in a rough manner, before slapping him, grabbing him by the neck and intentionally putting his thumb in his eye. The brief footage was played to the court.
The defendant has no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Soheil Khan said the man had accepted responsibility and remorse.
The court was told he was being screened for ADHD.
The judge, the Recorder of Leeds, Guy Kearl KC, acknowledged the man’s remorse and that he had acted “out of character”.
He gave him a 12-month community order, with 12 rehabilitation days and 80 hours of unpaid work to complete.
He also ordered him to pay £500 court costs.