because she had vomited on him has spent his first night behind bars.

Khalil Tariq Matthews looked stunned after being handed a six-month jail term for the crime by magistrate Edward King yesterday. The court heard how nursery workers reported the girl's injuries after seeing a bruise on each of her thighs as they changed her diaper the day after the incident took place last November.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister said the day-care staff reported the bruises which were then examined by a paediatrician.

Little Khal-Shae was taken to the emergency department where she was diagnosed with "several severe bruises to the thigh''.

Police Community and Juvenile Services officers began inquiries which led them to Matthews' Brunswick Street home where they seized several items.

When Police later arrested Matthews, he admitted the offence, adding: "I was just playing.'' Mr. Bannister said that during a Police interview, Matthews explained the girl had vomited over him and he "wanted to teach her a lesson'' by hitting her with a brown belt twice on the thighs.

He said the girl cried for a while before going to sleep.

And when asked how he felt after the whipping, Matthews said: "I didn't feel nothing.'' Photographic evidence of the beating was also produced by Mr. Bannister in court yesterday. After examining the pictures, Mr. King turned to Matthews and asked: "Did you see these pictures? You didn't? Show them to him officer.

Look at them! "That's your child?'' Mr. King asked the 25-year-old defendant.

"Yes, sir,'' came the reply.

"What would you do if she came home and I had done that to her?'' Mr. King asked.

When Matthews replied "I'd be upset,'' Mr. King said: "Man! You'd come after me wouldn't you?'' Matthews dropped his head and replied: "Yes, sir.'' After some deliberation, Mr. King then said: "I do take into consideration your guilty plea and your expression of remorse.

"The photos indicate the severity of the punishment given to the child,'' he continued. "Such (punishment) must be deterred.

"A harsh penalty is warranted to match the treatment meted out to the child.

I sentence you to an immediate custodial sentence of six months.'' Father jailed after beating baby When he was asked if he had anything to say about the incident, Matthews said: "I'd just like to apologise to the family for the actions which I had taken.

My family, my wife's family.'' Khal-Shae is now in the care of the Child and Juvenile Services Department of the Ministry of Health.

Mr. King got nods of approval and one person clapped their hands lightly after he convinced Mr. Bannister to drop a virtually identical charge against Matthews.

He had pleaded guilty to assaulting Khal-Shae and doing her bodily harm which is a hybrid charge and can be tried in both the lower and Supreme Courts.

Assault causing bodily harm comes under the Criminal Code for which a person could be jailed for up to 12 months.

But the charge of "being a person having parental responsibility toward a child did wilfully abuse the child'' is strictly a summary charge under the Children's Act of 1998 for which Mr. King could only give a maximum six-month sentence.

Mr. King told Mr. Bannister he was "concerned there are two charges relating to the same thing'' and is akin to being charged separately for each item one may shoplift on one occasion.

"It's improper for me to sentence him on number two when it is obvious to me he should have been charged with number one, Mr. Bannister,'' he added.

When the prosecutor relented and withdrew the Children's Act charge, Mr. King turned to Matthews and said: "The second charge is withdrawn.

"But the summary of facts of that second one run into the first. The details of the abuse explain the assault -- what you did was the result.''