A MAN who brutally assaulted his girlfriend s four-year-old son has been jailed for six months. The 27-year-old man from Royston, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. The child s 23-year-old mother was given a suspended sentence in D

A MAN who "brutally" assaulted his girlfriend's four-year-old son has been jailed for six months.

The 27-year-old man from Royston, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

The child's 23-year-old mother was given a suspended sentence in December for cruelty by failing to protect him.

Luton Crown Court heard that the boy's grandmother noticed severe bruising on the boy's bottom on November 2, 2006 and consulted her doctor which led to police becoming involved.

Experts who examined photographs said the bruising went far beyond normal chastisement.

When arrested, the man, who is not the boy's natural father, said: "I am not going to lie. I smacked him, are you not allowed to smack your children now?"

Later he said he had punished the boy because he had wet himself, but did not realise he had hit him so hard, said Penelope Rector, prosecuting.

In mitigation, Satyanand Beharryal said the couple had been receiving help from family support services with the hope that they would be able to have the boy back to live with them.

"He is taking every step available to obtain the skills he lacked in the past and has made good progress and is very motivated.

"This was a single incident and there is a very low risk that he will reoffend. A custodial sentence will do more harm than good to this family," he said.

But Judge Geoffrey Breen told him: "I have seen the photographs of that bruising and it is clear to me that the beating you inflicted was brutal. Considerable pain must have been caused and the boy must have been quite terrified.

"The court must protect those who cannot protect themselves," he said.