The mother of a baby boy whose father was spared jail for causing him multiple fractures says her son has been denied justice.

The 22-year-old man was sentenced to a suspended term of imprisonment at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for causing the 16-day-old infant grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that the man, of the Holme Wood area of Bradford, was an inexperienced father who broke the baby’s leg in several places while changing his nappy.

The child also suffered rib injuries when his father squeezed him.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the baby, was sentenced to 51 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must perform 150 hours of unpaid work and a medium-level probation service activity requirement for 30 days, with 12 months’ supervision.

The court heard that it was accepted that he did not intend to injure his baby son. The boy was struggling when his nappy was being changed and his leg was twisted.

But after the case, the child’s angry mother said her former partner should have been jailed.

The 23-year-old woman, who lives in another part of Bradford with her son, said she was not allowed to care for him for six months while social services investigated the case.

“It is just horrible,” she said. “They treated me as badly as him. He has not been punished any more than I have been.”

The woman said the child, now more than a year old, had made a good recovery.

But she still could not understand how his injuries were caused.

“I don’t feel I have got justice for my son. I cried when I heard the sentence,” she said.

“I have known of an adult who got into a fight and got two years for Section 20 GBH. I don’t know how he can break a baby’s bones and get away with it.”

The woman said her ordeal was made worse because the baby’s father did not admit his guilt for some time.

“Social workers are still coming to see me and I have not done anything,” she said.