A Hamilton Parish man, who took out his frustration with his former partner by attacking their son, has pleaded guilty to assaulting the six-year-old and causing him bodily harm.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, the 37-year-old admitted the offence, which took place in Hamilton Parish on July 6.

Neither the defendant nor the victim can be named for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Carrington Mahoney told the court that the boy had been dropped off by his mother at his father’s residence on the day of the attack.

He said the defendant accused his son of telling lies, punched him in the chest so he fell over and kicked him in the groin.

Mr Mahoney added that the defendant also punched his son in the face, causing his mouth to bleed and the loss of a tooth.

Police attended the defendant’s residence when the boy told his mother about the attack.

The defendant, who has two other children, admitted punching his son in the chest, mouth and face and kicking him in the groin.

In court today, the defendant said that there is “no explanation for me and my temper” and that he “lost control”.

He said he was frustrated because his former partner allegedly did not follow their agreed custody arrangements and that he was “unprepared” for his son being dropped off at his house.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said this was a “disturbing case” and questioned the defendant’s parenting skills.

“All of which you have said, none of it justifies physical violence on your son,” he said. “As a parent of more than one child, you weren’t acting like a parent at all.”

He added that the defendant was frustrated with his son’s mother, but took it out on his son physically and verbally.

Mr Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report and a psychological evaluation and adjourned the matter to August 25 for sentencing.

The defendant was granted $5,000 bail on the condition that he have no unsupervised contact with his son.

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