A SHAMED soldier who broke four of his baby son’s ribs while living in Poole has escaped a jail sentence.

The 25-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted two counts of assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on March 10 and March 30 last year.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how the victim had been only weeks old when the attacks took place.

On the first occasion the defendant had been left alone with the baby boy. When the boy’s mother arrived home the child was screaming and the defendant was “in a distressed state”.

Later bruises were spotted on the back of the boy’s head. When questioned about the injuries, his father said a puppy was to blame.

After the child was sick he was taken to Poole hospital where he remained for four days while tests were carried out. Bruises were found on his shoulder, lower back, shin and arms.

The child’s father was arrested after X-rays carried out in April, following the second attack, revealed that a total of five of the child’s ribs had been fractured.

In his defence, the court heard that the defendant was a man of previous good character and “a valuable soldier”. If a prison sentence or suspended jail term was imposed he would be discharged from the army.

His commanding officer described him as “very fragile” and “apologetic”.

He added that the soldier would not cope if his military career ended because the army was his “surrogate family”.

Recorder Anthony Davies QC told the defendant: “You were the father and the one who should be trusted to keep that baby from harm. Instead you harmed that baby yourself.

“I’m satisfied that you are shameful of that behaviour. The effects have caused the break-up of your marriage.

“The army wants to keep you and has spoken very highly of your attributes. These are exceptional circumstances.”

He imposed a two-year community order with the requirement that the soldier is supervised during that period, attends a domestic violence course and carries out 170 hours of unpaid work.

Later the child’s mother slammed the sentence. She said: “Justice hasn’t been done.

“Anyone who attacks a defenceless little baby should be jailed. There is no excuse. I can’t believe he hasn’t been sent to prison. I was under suspicion – my whole family has been torn apart.

“Thankfully, my son is absolutely fine now but I will never forgive his father. He is a very dangerous man.”