Father broke both baby son's legs

A FATHER who broke his baby son's legs was given a suspended jail sentence yesterday.

Nathan Drake suffered two fractures to his left leg when he was two months old and facial bruising and a broken right leg when 11 weeks old. Darren Drake, who has not worked for six years, injured him when he lost his temper or his patience snapped, Exeter Crown Court heard.

He denied two charges of causing grievous bodily harm and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.

After Drake was found guilty, Judge Ian McKintosh sentenced him to a year in jail, suspended for two years, saying the circumstances were so exceptional that an immediate prison term was not neceesary.

Richard Hough, for the prosecution, said Drake, 26, of Ottery St Mary, Devon, told police he pulled Nathan's leg to stop him crying. Drake allegedly said Nathan was lying face down in his cot and he twisted his leg to turn him over.

Drake reportedly told police: 'I didn't intend to injure him, he is my son and I love him.'

The judge said: 'This was not a deliberate course of beating and you did not intend to hurt the child.'