Brinscall man found guilty of inflicting injuries on toddler (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Brinscall man found guilty of inflicting injuries on toddler

2:16pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Chorley By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

A MAN has been found guilty of inflicting injuries on a 17-month-old baby boy because he disturbed him watching TV soap Hollyoaks.

The 20-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, was convicted by a jury at Preston Crown Court of cruelty to a child under the age of 16 and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that the Brinscall man left the baby with broken bones in both arms, a fractured collar bone, swelling and bruising to his head, nose and ear as well as bruising to his genitals after at least thee sustained attacks.

The boy received the injuries between August 1 and 30 last year, while in the defendant’s care.

The abuse came to light on August 30 after he was asked to look after the child by its mother.

The defendant became upset at the child after he started crying during his daily fix of Hollyoaks.

He denied the charges throughout the three-day trial but admitted he had ‘dropped’ the child after going upstairs to attend to the baby after it started crying.

Despite expert medical evidence proving that the tot could not have sustained two broken bones in this way, the defendant could not provide another explanation for the child’s injuries.

After the attack, the mother returned home, realised her baby’s arms we're injured and took him to Chorley Hospital.

The tot was then taken to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital before being seen by an orthopaedic doctor at the Royal Preston Hospital.

During his time at hospital, staff became concerned at the number of non-accidental injuries on the child’s body, and alerted police.

Judge Pamela Bradley told the defendant he had been found guilty of ‘very serious’ offences and granted him bail until August 10 when he will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court.