Police allege Young dad fractured 4mo daughter‘s bones during fits of rage

Police have alleged in court a first-time father recorded a confession to injuring his four-month old daughter, who has been left with fractures throughout her body.

A young first-time father who police allege fractured five bones in his baby daughter’s body by squeezing her during fits of rage allegedly made a video in which he admitted being responsible for her injuries, a court has heard.

Police will allege in court that the 23-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, recorded a 45-minute “confession” video on his mobile phone in early October last year, just days after his four-month-old daughter was admitted to a regional NSW hospital with bruising to her chest and unexplained fractures to multiple bones in her body.

In the footage, the man allegedly says “I am guilty for the shit that I have done”, “I get angry and squeeze her” and “the reason she has five fractures is because of me”.

Details of the alarming set of allegations, including how police say the injuries were inflicted, can be revealed for the first time after the man successfully sought bail in the NSW Supreme Court earlier this month.

The court heard police will allege the man grabbed his daughter by the feet, squeezed her and lifted her up “with significant force” while changing her nappy at least once in the months after her birth, causing fractures to both ankles.

The first-time father has admitted to injuring his daughter in a video.

Police will also allege the man also wrapped both hands around his daughter’s rib cage and again squeezed her, leaving her with two fractured ribs.

At other times, he allegedly squeezed her body while holding her in a feeding position.

The court heard the catalyst for the hospital visit occurred on October 2, when the man allegedly twisted the baby’s arm backwards during a verbal argument with his partner - the child’s mother - regarding correct feeding practices.

“The accused felt it [the arm] crack and the victim began to cry a lot,” documents tendered to the court said.

“The accused did not inform [his partner] of what had occurred.”

The court heard the child’s mother noticed her daughter wasn’t using her left arm the following day and sought advice from a relative, who advised her to go to hospital immediately.

The baby was left with eight fractures. Photo: iStock

Court documents said X-rays revealed the child had fractures to both ankles, both wrists, the two ribs, the left calf bone and the upper left arm.

A report was made to police, who arrested the man on October 6 and charged him with child neglect and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

Police will allege the man confessed to inflicting the rib, ankle and arm injuries, but could not account for the fractures to the child’s wrists and calf bone, the court heard.

“I [get] angry and squeeze her, that’s why she is crying so much, I couldn’t give you reason for it,” he allegedly said in the video.

“I am that person. I couldn’t handle having a kid. I’m the bad person who did all that shit … I’ve been too rough with her. I’ve snapped too many times.”

The court heard the child is currently in the care of her paternal grandparents, who were present in court to support their son’s release application.

Justice Stephen Campbell agreed to grant strict conditional bail, despite strong objections from prosecutors and police, who raised concerns about potential breaches of an apprehended domestic violence order prohibiting the man from having contact with his daughter.

As part of his bail, the man must live with his grandparents and abstain from drugs and alcohol.

The case will return to court next month for mention.