‘Abhorrent’: Man’s infant son shaken, genitalia squeezed in violent attacks, court told

A man has been jailed for violently assaulting his infant son, shaking the young baby and squeezing his genitalia in an “abhorrent” series of attacks.

The man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – pleaded guilty at Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm more than four years ago.

The crown did not proceed on a single charge of torture and three other charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and they were withdrawn.

The court was told the man, 29, assaulted his baby on multiple occasions back in January 2018, but the injuries were only revealed after the 26-day-old son was raced to hospital early on January 29.

The baby was vomiting blood and experiencing breathing difficulty.

Crown prosecutor Michael Gawrych said the man had admitted to shaking the child, squeezing the sides of his torso and throwing him onto a bed.

He also made admissions to twisting his son’s left leg back and squeezing the baby’s “scrotum and penis” causing bruising.

Mr Gawrych said the child spent eight days in hospital.

The court was told the child’s injuries included a cerebral contusion, brain swelling and fractures, but the injuries were expected to heal with no deformities.

“This is a serious example of assault occasioning actual bodily harm,” Mr Gawrych said.

The man tried to downplay his involvement when interviewed by police, explaining the baby’s brain injuries were caused by him dropping the child or the child slipping in the bath.

The shaking was blamed as an “accident”, Mr Gawrych told the court.

He said the man had displayed no genuine remorse and a “callous disregard” for the child’s welfare in his initial interviews.

Daniel Boddice, the man’s defence barrister, told the court the acts occurred in the circumstances of the young father becoming “frustrated” with his child.

Mr Boddice explained there was no malice or intent to cause harm or pain to the child.

The court was told the man had a substance abuse disorder and had been using the drug ice around the time of the offending, but had remained drug-free while in pre-sentence custody.

Mr Boddice said his client had since expressed genuine remorse for his actions.

The man was sentenced to four years’ jail, with 317 days spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.

He will be eligible for parole in December.

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