A young mum has criticised magistrates for granting probation to a babysitter convicted of assaulting her baby daughter.

Linda Thompson, 39, of Ryedale Way, Allerton, Bradford, was found guilty of common assault against the child.

But the girl's mother, who cannot be identified by law, said today that Thompson should have gone to prison for the offence.

Thompson, a mother-of-two - who has protested her innocence ever since the incident last March - was yesterday sentenced to six months' probation and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the child, plus £150 costs, by Bradford magistrates.

The baby's mother said: "I hoped she would get at least two months in prison. My daughter is fine now, but she still gets nightmares."

The Court heard how the tot was dropped off at Thompson's house one evening in March last year when her parents, who live in the Bank Foot area of Bradford, were going out to celebrate a family birthday.

It was the first time the couple had felt able to go out and leave the young baby in someone else's care.

When they returned they found a small cut on the baby's head and bruising to her face.

They went immediately to hospital and the baby was assessed by Dr Stephen Green, a consultant paediatrician at St Luke's Hospital. His statement to the court read: "There was significant bruising to both cheeks, in my opinion caused by hand slaps to both sides of the face."

Later he told the T&A: "You can tell a slap mark because of pinhead markings on the skin, like a rash. The markings on the face were slap marks and it was a really hard slap."

Thompson later told police the tot had fallen forwards on the settee and she had grabbed at her head to stop her fall - but she has always denied assault.

At yesterday's sentencing hearing, Thompson's solicitor John Holden, said she still denied doing anything wrong.

"She wishes to appeal against the conviction," he said. "The fact that she was found guilty four weeks ago has already had a devastating effect upon her and every aspect of her life. She feels completely demoralised by the finding of guilt.''

Thompson's appeal will be heard at the Crown Court on a date yet to be fixed.

A spokesman for the Child Protection Unit at Eccleshill police station said: "We are happy for the parents, who wanted justice.''

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