A BRADFORD man has been jailed for four years for almost killing his six-year-old son by kicking him in the stomach in an explosion of violent rage.

The child suffered a perforated bowel and multiple bruising in the attack at the family home on January 31.

He was transferred from Bradford Royal Infirmary to Sheffield Children’s Hospital where he was in intensive care for 24 hours. He spent three weeks in hospital and would have died without prompt medical intervention.

His 36-year-old father, who has mental health problems, was labelled “a clear and present danger” by Judge Colin Burn at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his son, was a paranoid schizophrenic who had not been taking his medication, prosecutor Stephen Wood said.

He was charged with causing his son grievous bodily harm with intent but his plea to the less serious offence of unlawful wounding was accepted by the Crown.

Mr Wood said the man had no recollection of attacking his son. The alarm was raised by family members and he made no comment to police questions.

The court heard that the boy was back at school but may need further medical intervention.

“This was an assault out of a position of power. It was the abuse of a position of trust,” Mr Wood said.

The man’s barrister, Yunus Valli, said: “This is a sad and tragic case.”

The defendant had no previous convictions and had acted wholly out of character.

He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had been hospitalised over the years.

His wife of 15 years said he had been mentally ill for most of that time.

She watched him take his medication but could not be certain he was actually swallowing his tablets.

“This is a man who is not well, has not been well and has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity,” Mr Valli said.

Judge Burn said a psychiatrist and a probation officer had reported that the man posed a serious risk if he did not take his medication.

The “dreadful assault” would remain with the boy for the rest of his life.

“He will now be in an extremely frightening place, with his own father inflicting these injuries upon him,” Judge Burn said.

Although the man had no criminal convictions he had a background of aggression because of his illness.

He suffered from schizophrenia and depression and had previously spent time in Lynfield Mount Hospital, but did not require treatment under The Mental Health Act.

Judge Burn said the boy would have died without prompt medical attention.

He sentenced the man to a five year prison sentence, made up of a custodial term of four years and a year’s extended licence.

“I would be failing in my public duty if I did not treat you as a dangerous offender,” he said.