Father given six years for bashing baby

A Melbourne father who bashed his four-month-old daughter, breaking her ribs and thigh, has been sentenced to six years in jail.

Benjamin James Holmes, 31, who pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly causing injury, was sentenced in the Victorian County Court for bashing his infant daughter Teagan Knight.

Judge Leslie Ross told the court Holmes' behaviour was intolerable.

The court was told four-month-old Teagan was admitted to Box Hill Hospital on August 9, 2006, before being transferred to the intensive care unit of the Royal Children's Hospital.

The court was told that doctors concluded her rib and collarbone injuries were consistent with an adult holding her around the chest and squeezing her forcibly with their hands.

While the broken leg was probably caused by the limb being twisted and pulled, and the torn tongue was caused by a spoon being forced into her mouth.

Holmes, of East Ringwood, was questioned by hospital staff about his daughter's injuries before he was interviewed by police on August 18, 2006.

The court was told that Holmes gave several accounts to police of how Teagan sustained the injuries, including one that he accidentally sat on her.

Holmes told police that on another occasion he was holding Teagan when he fell in the lounge room and she hit her head on a coffee table.

Judge Leslie Ross told the court that Holmes also had shown a reluctance to obtain medical treatment for the infant when she was in distress.

"You gave an untruthful account," Judge Ross said.

"At one point you said you may have accidentally sat on her.

"It is quite heartless ... the criminal treatment of this child.

"This infant suffered quite significant trauma at your hands."

Judge Ross sentenced Holmes to six years in jail with a minimum of four-and-a-half years.

"This is a serious case of child abuse," he said.

"The victim was an infant just short of five months of age ... helpless and defenceless.

"Conduct of this kind is intolerable."