A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a north-east teenager who assaulted a baby.
Shane Baird was due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing yesterday after he previously admitted grabbing hold of the infant’s leg and squeezing down tight.
The child’s leg was covered in bruises as a result and she was rushed to hospital for a series of tests, including a CT scan and multiple X-rays, to ensure she had not been left with broken bones.
The 19-year-old previously admitted carrying out the attack in January at an address in Aberdeenshire and his case was adjourned for background reports to be carried out.
However Baird failed to appear before Sheriff Graeme Napier yesterday and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Last month fiscal depute Anne MacDonald told the court the child, who was just weeks-old, 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 youngster during the evening and had prepared a bath for her.
Hours later the child’s mother was awoken in the middle of the night by the little girl’s cries.
Ms MacDonald said the mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, found this strange as her child was normally content unless she needed feeding or changed.
The next day, she discovered finger-like bruises on the baby’s leg and was concerned about how they got there.
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 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.”