A man who was caught on camera repeatedly punching a friend's sleeping baby has been jailed for six months.

The parents of the 20-month-old boy had become concerned about the behaviour of Stephen Carty, 39, and put a camera in the room, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Carty of, Westfield Park in Wallsend, said he carried out the attack while under "pressure" because his daughter had health problems.

He admitted assaulted occasioning actual bodily harm. The baby recovered.

The hearing heard how the child, who was bruised after being hit on the back, was found covered in vomit after the attack at a house party in Gateshead in May.

'Distressed state'

Mark Donkin, prosecuting, said: "As a result of concerns about the child, the parents had set up a video camera in the child's room.

"During the course of the evening the child was put to bed in its cot. During the evening the defendant was seen to leave the party area and go to the toilet.

"He was followed by the child's father and he saw the defendant coming from the direction of the child's bedroom.

"The father went to the child's room and could see the child had vomited and was in a distressed state in the cot.

"When looking at the video later he saw the defendant strike the child five times while he was sleeping then leave the room quickly."

Chris Morrison, defending, said Carty felt "remorse" for what he had done.

how sick is this guy :S

 

and of cause he will say he feels remorse coz he dont wanna go to jail. he should get life he is sick

 

i could never do that to any one llet alone a small baby.

 

sick sick sick put him away and throw away the keys