A BABY girl suffered a leg fracture and deep bruising due to probable ‘rough handling’ by her parents, a judge has ruled.

Concerns were raised about the welfare of the seven-month-old baby, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after she was taken to Burnley General Hospital to be treated for a ‘rash’ on her skin.

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After she was transferred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, doctors found dark bruises on her right lower leg, right shoulder and the base of her right ear, as well as a fracture in her right femur, which was seemingly undetected by the parents.

A safeguarding alert was raised with Lancashire County Council about the girl, who was referred to as ‘T’ in the Family Court in Leyland, and caseworkers later accused the parents of causing the injuries. She is now being cared for by her uncle and aunt.

The court heard the baby’s mother had lived a turbulent life, including an incident of sexual exploitation, which was said to have ‘changed her style of life and caused her to settle down’.

Although social workers had raised concerns during the pregnancy for her first child, a positive assessment was made and the case was closed, the judge said.

The mother, who also had a disability, lacked confidence, and the father, who was unemployed and lived on benefits, was technically her carer, the court heard.

Although the allegations were denied by the parents, His Honour Judge Duggan said: “The household had two children under three, and the newborn suffered colic and constipation.

“The mother was able to make only a limited contribution and she struggled to help the father who was carrying a high burden.

“Both parents deny the possibility of any unreported accident. They both deny any frustration or loss of temper but surely these were all too possible in the circumstances. I find their account to be unrealistic.”

And he ruled that on the balance of probabilities: “These injuries were inflicted injuries indicating frustration and rough handling in a difficult domestic setting.

“They were inflicted by the mother or by the father or by both parents but it is not possible to determine which of the two is the more probable perpetrator.”