Ipswich man sentenced for negligent act that sent baby to hospital

An Ipswich man bounced his baby in such a “vigorous and excessive” manner the child had to be rushed to hospital with a brain bleed and seizures, a court has heard.

Man leaving Ipswich Court on December 15, 2022, after being sentenced for "excessive bouncing" that sent his baby to hospital. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich father has faced court for bouncing his baby so vigorously it was left with a brain bleed and suffered seizures, a court has been told.

The man, in his 20s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on December 15 to one charge of committing a negligent act causing harm.

The court heard the incident occurred in 2019 when the baby was only a few months old.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard said the child was unsettled so the father picked her up and bounced her on his knee in such a “vigorous and excessive way” it caused head trauma.

The baby then sneezed clear liquid from her nose and her body went limp.

Ms Stannard said the dad called emergency services as the baby was struggling to breathe, “had gone flimsy” and had milky liquid coming out of her nose.

The man did not inform paramedics or hospital staff about what he had done.

They discharged the child the next day, thinking it was a viral infection.

A day later, the baby was taken back to hospital due to pain and reduced feeding, but was again discharged after doctors suspected an infection.

Ms Stannard said in the following days the baby would not eat or sleep and was vomiting “on and off”.

Her condition worsened and she had three seizures.

She was yet again taken to hospital and scans finally identified bleeding on her brain and bleeding in her eyes, which a doctor suggested was due to an acute traumatic head injury.

Ms Stannard said if the injury had been left untreated the infant would have suffered permanent injury or death.

She said the child was misdiagnosed and left untreated for so long because the defendant failed to disclose what had actually happened.

“(The hospital staff) specifically asked the defendant and other members of the family whether they were aware of anything that would help them and he (the father) specifically said no,” Ms Stannard said.

Judge Dennis Lynch said the father “clearly should have told them (medical staff)” but questioned whether he would have understood the correlation between his actions and the child’s symptoms.

The court heard the man was initially charged with grievous bodily harm.

The matter was headed for trial before the charge was dropped after the man agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge.

Defence barrister Justin Thomas said the child had fully recovered and even attended court with her mum, to support the father.

He said his client had suffered emotionally and psychologically as a result of what happened.

He noted that strict bail conditions initially prevented his client from seeing his child and partner.

“It is now well over three years down the track, everybody has moved on,” Mr Thomas said.

“The Department of Child Safety (DOCS) has disengaged, the family is reunited.”

Mr Thomas argued that not recording a conviction would be the best outcome for the baby as it would allow the family to “get on with their lives”.

Judge Lynch acknowledged DOCS appeared satisfied the child was not at risk in her father’s care.

“It is clear that you did not intend to cause harm to the child. Of course the child did suffer very serious consequences — I’m sure you understand that now and regret what occurred,” he said.

The man was sentenced to 18 months’ probation. No convictions were recorded.