A Bradford mother whose baby son was put on a life support machine after suffering appalling physical abuse today said the baby's attacker had destroyed her family.

Andrew Wilson, 30, of Barkerend, Bradford, was jailed for six years after admitting 11 offences of unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm on two baby boys.

The mother of one of Wilson's victims, a 10-month-old boy, described him as "an evil man" and said he should have been locked up for life.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her son, said: "I have lost two children because of this."

"They have been put up for adoption because I didn't protect them. Wilson has broken up my family. I hate him."

The mother, who temporarily moved to the south of England to avoid yesterday's traumatic Court case at Bradford Crown Court, described the day she saw the injuries to her baby.

"He had swelling on the side of his head the size of half a football," she said.

"He looked deformed. I feared for his life and rushed him to hospital."

The baby boy has now made a full physical recovery. One of her other sons has also been put up for adoption, but she is fighting to keep her third son.

"It has destroyed my family," she said. "I have come to terms with losing my two youngest son, but I will be fighting to keep my eldest.

"Wilson has destroyed our lives and he should be locked up for life. He is a violent man and when he gets out I'm sure he will do it again. He is evil."

The mother said now the court case is over, she is starting to rebuild her life.

"It's difficult though," she said. "I'm picking up the pieces. But, at the back of my mind, I realise I may never see two of my children ever again."

Yesterday Bradford Crown Court heard how Andrew Wilson was originally questioned by police in April 1996 when a 14-month-old boy was admitted to the city's Royal Infirmary after suffering a skull fracture and breaks to his left forearm and right leg.

Prosecutor John Topham revealed that although Wilson was interviewed about the injuries it was decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed against him.

But just over a year later Wilson was again arrested and this time charged after the 10-month-old baby had to be put on a life support machine at the Leeds General Infirmary.

Mr Topham said that the boy had suffered fractures to both his arms and his legs, sustained crush injuries to his spine and was haemorrhaging around his brain and eyes.

The youngster was kept on a ventilator for two days and Mr Topham said there was serious concern about his condition.

He told the court however that both boys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had not suffered any long-term physical damage, but one of them was now frightened of men.

Following the second boy's admission to hospital the police took further statements in relation to the injuries suffered by the 14-month-old and in October last year Wilson was also charged with those matters.

During interviews Wilson denied being responsible for causing the injuries, but last month he pleaded guilty to 11 allegations of unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Wilson's barrister Graham Hyland QC said he now accepted that on a number of occasions he unlawfully inflicted violence upon both children, but he highlighted the fact that the incidents took place over a relatively short period of time.

"He maintains that while accepting responsibility for all of the injuries they were not inflicted with intent to do grievous bodily harm," he added.

Passing sentence Judge Roderick Adams told Wilson: "As you appreciate this is a shocking story of ill-treatment to two children.

"Everyone must understand that children have to be protected from this type of behaviour and only substantial custodial sentences are appropriate."

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