Hungry child woke father up looking for food; man became enraged and beat youngster

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FREDERICTON - A judge said that although she doesn't think a father who beat his toddler son will do it again, she had to send him to jail for six weeks to send a message to the public.

The 27-year-old Fredericton man previously pleaded guilty to an indictable charge of assault.

Crown prosecutor Hilary Drain said the man beat his three-year-old son so badly May 12 that he left red marks and bruises all over the child's body.

Police responded to the defendant's apartment after a neighbour called and reported that the man was screaming at the child and that it sounded like he was banging the boy off the walls.

The defendant told the police that his son woke him up that morning, complaining that he was hungry.

He said he got up, but couldn't find his watch.

Drain said he became enraged and dragged his son around by the arm, looking for his watch. He slapped his son in the face and forehead, spanked his bare bottom hard enough to leave marks and even struck the boy in the stomach.

Medical staff at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital reported that there were red marks and bruising on the toddler's face, forehead, neck, lower back and abdomen. Hospital staff indicated it was a clear case of child abuse.

Drain said that although the accused has taken steps to improve himself and atone for his actions, a jail sentence is called for, even though he has no prior criminal record.

Duty counsel Joe Fitzpatrick said his client is working to address his substance-abuse problem.

Since the assault, he's been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings, undergone anger-management counselling and is taking life skills and parenting courses offered by the Department of Social Development.

The accused told the court he was sorry and offered no excuses for his actions.

Judge Mary Jane Richards said it's clear that he's remorseful and has taken positive steps to become a healthy and positive parent. Nevertheless, it's also important for the court to reflect society's distaste for such abuse and to deter others, the judge said.

She said she doesn't believe the father poses a risk to the child's safety any longer, but she couldn't grant a conditional sentence.