A north-east teenager has admitted carrying out an assault on a two-month-old baby.
Shane Baird left the infant’s leg covered in bruises after he deliberately grabbed hold of the child and squeezed tightly.
The child was rushed to hospital where she had to undergo a series of tests including a CT scan and multiple x-rays to ensure she had not been left with broken bones.
Yesterday Baird, 19, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted carrying out the attack on January this year while at an address in Ellon.
Fiscal depute Anne MacDonald told the court the child had been in good health and had no visible injuries in the days leading up to the assault.
She said Baird, of 8 Carnegie Crescent, St Combs, had offered to look after the child during the evening and had prepared a bath for it. The court heard that at the time the child had appeared content.
Hours later the child’s mother was woken in the middle of the night by the little girl’s cries.
Ms MacDonald said the mother, who can not be named for legal reasons, found this strange as her child was normally content unless she needed fed or changed.
The next day, the mother discovered finger-like bruises on the baby’s leg and was concerned about how they got there, and confronted Baird.
Miss MacDonald said: “The mother confronted Baird and asked if he had done something to her baby and he said at that stage ‘I might have held her too tightly after her bath’.
“Apart from the obvious bruising the mother said the child appeared to be fine.”
The court heard that despite no other obvious injuries the authorities were informed about the bruises and doctors ruled “they were non-accidental”, prompting a series of tests.
Miss MacDonald added: “A medical examination was carried out and it was confirmed that there was no other medical condition which could have caused these bruises and that the bruises were thought to have been highly suspicious.”
Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence on the teenager until next month for the preparation of background reports.