Rhyan Jon Stephens jailed for eight years over horrific abuse of 18-month-old child

A man has been jailed after inflicting horrific injuries with lifelong consequences on an 18-month-old child.

A man has been jailed for eight years after leaving an 18-month-old toddler with rib fractures, a damaged liver and a split pancreas.

Rhyan Jon Stephens, 37, was smoking up to “30 bongs a day” while living with the child, who was left with nightmares after the sickening attacks.

During sentencing, the District Court heard the child’s injuries showed he had been subjected to assaults over a period of months.

The child’s injuries were first discovered when he was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on July 15, 2020.

The toddler was lethargic, not eating and vomiting.

Scans showed he had fractured ribs, organ damage and a split pancreas, which was already healing.

Rhyan Stephens was jailed for eight years for assaulting an 18 month old child. Picture: Facebook

He also had a large bruise to the tip of his penis.

Stephens took the stand in his own defence during his trial.

He told the court he would smoke up to 30 bongs on days when he was not caring for the children and would normally start smoking cannabis with his morning coffee or after dropping the kids off at school and child care.

Even while caring for the children he would “smoke a bong every hour”.

Stephens gave reasons for the victim’s injuries, including that he had given the victim CPR after he had nearly drowned in the bath at one point during his care.

After investigating a mental incompetence defence, Stephens ended up pleading guilty to multiple offences, including causing harm with intent.

The court heard the victim’s penis injury was caused by Stephens forcibly squeezing it and he had applied forceful pressure to the victim’s chest forcing the pancreas, which is usually protected by other organs, into the spine.

The court heard the victim would not be able to play contact sports and continues to experience nightmares as a result of the offending.

The victim’s mother said the violent and cruel acts had left her feeling “lost, numb and depressed”.

Judge Burnett said while he accepted Stephens was remorseful for the offending, the victim’s injuries will affect him for the rest of his life.

“The offending was committed against a most vulnerable and defenceless member of society, namely a baby,” he said.

Stephens was sentenced to eight years and two months, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months.

The sentence was backdated to November 20.