A MAN has been jailed after biting his girlfriend’s 15-month-old daughter.

James George, from Accrington has been sent to prison for 24 weeks after the attack on the youngster when she was strapped into her pushchair and crying.

The 27-year-old, of Carmel Avenue, pleaded guilty at a hearing at Burnley Crown Court to actual bodily harm after biting the child on the cheek.

DC Ryan Waddington, of Blackburn CID, said: “It was a very nasty case.

“The victim wasn’t able to speak up for herself and explain what had happened.

“George was interviewed by police and could not explain why he had done it.

“After being interviewed a few more times he admitted to what he had done.

“I think that 24 weeks in prison sends out a strong message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The little girl’s face had a very large bruise on it but thankfully that’s now gone.

“She seems to be thriving now in a better environment.

“It’s a positive end to a horrible case.

“This is something that is very rare and speaking to my colleagues, we have not come across something like this before.”

However, a councillor for the area where George lived has said that the sentence passed by Judge Beverley Lunt was not tough enough.

Cllr Glen Harrison, who represents the St Oswald’s ward on Hyndburn Council, said: “I think that any attack on any person is shocking and even more so when it’s a defenceless child.

“I don’t think that this sentence is tough enough and I would have liked to have seen one pass that was longer.

“I know that if it had been my child that was attacked I would have wanted the attacker to go to prison for longer.

“It’s clear that this was a barbaric act and it’s a horrible thing to have happened.

“My thoughts go out to the child’s mum for having to witness such an assault.

“I hope that the girl has not suffered any lasting damage.

“As a dad of three I hate to think that this level of suffering has been done to such a small child.”