A FATHER who lost his temper and assaulted his baby son fracturing his skull has escaped a jail sentence.

Steven Pickering, 32, momentarily lost control and gripped, shook and threw down 11-week-old Logan.

Pickering, of Wellington Street, Lindley, was described in court as a man with a "significant learning difficulty" who should never have been left alone to care for the baby.

His Honour Judge Rose, sitting at Bradford Crown Court, said Pickering could have killed his son but decided not to send him down.

Imposing a 12-month sentence suspended by two years, the judge said the only thing that kept him out of jail was his low intelligence.

There were angry scenes in court after the judge passed sentence.

Martin Nield, the uncle of Logan’s mum, Sinead Nield, rushed towards the judge and shouted: "It’s a disgrace.

"You’ve let him walk the streets of Huddersfield. He has got away with hurting Logan."

Earlier, after an application by the Examiner, the judge had lifted reporting restrictions which would have prevented Pickering from being named in the newspaper.

An order under the Children and Young Persons Act had been imposed at a previous hearing at the request of the prosecution to protect the identity of Logan, who will be three next month.

Logan’s mum approached the Examiner and wanted the story to be published in full.

The judge read a letter from the Examiner which quoted previous case law.

After being told that 22-year-old Sinead supported the application the judge agreed that Logan was too young to be affected by reporting of the case and lifted the Section 39 order.

Pickering admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm on January 16, 2010.

Miss Denise Breen-Lawton, prosecuting, told the court how Sinead fell pregnant three months after meeting Pickering.

Pickering, who had a daughter by a previous relationship, did not work and was described as "lazy" at home, doing little to look after Logan.

Sinead was taking a hairdressing course at Huddersfield Technical College and on January 16 left Pickering to look after Logan on his own.

Miss Breen-Lawton told how at lunchtime Pickering phoned 999 and paramedics arrived.

Pickering said Logan was "floppy" and "breathing funny" but insisted nothing had happened.

Logan was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax where tests were carried out for meningitis including a painful lumbar puncture.

Logan also had a seizure.

Investigations subsequently found that Logan had suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

A doctor later said Logan had been subjected to "significant forces".

It was likely the baby had been "held, shaken and thrown down."

Pickering denied hurting his son but admitted to being "a bit heavy-handed or rough" but no-one had shown him how to handle a baby.

A ‘findings of fact’ hearing in June 2010 decided that Pickering had caused the injuries.

Miss Gillian Batts, for Pickering, presented psychological and pre-sentence reports to the judge.

The psychological report described Pickering as "less intellectually able than 99% of his peers."

Miss Batts said: "It is quite obvious what has happened here.

"The defendant’s limited capabilities meant he was not able to deal with Logan when he had one of his more difficult periods.

"Logan suffered with colic and I am sure those with children understand how difficult colic is.

"The defendant should really never have been left alone with the child.

"The defendant had a momentary loss of temper and caused the injuries."

Sentencing, Judge Rose spoke directly to Pickering, who sobbed and wiped away tears.

"A child is precious and needs to be protected and handled gently and carefully," said the judge.

"They do not always do what we want. They often make noises and messes that we don’t want them to.

"Do you understand? I am trying to choose my words so you understand them."

He added: "You did something very bad to him when he was only a few weeks old.

"You hurt him, you shook him and threw him down and broke his skull.

"It’s an injury that could hurt him for a very long time. It could have killed him. Do you understand?" Pickering nodded.

The judge went on: "You could go to prison for this. Were it not for your particular circumstances I would send you to prison for a long time."

Pickering was also given a two-year supervision order and told he could never work with children.

SINEAD NIELD told how her baby son was taken into care for two years as a result of the assault by her ex-partner Steven Pickering.

With Pickering refusing to admit he inflicted the injuries on their 11-week-old son, the shadow of suspicion fell upon them both.

Sinead was just 18 when she met the then 29-year-old Pickering in November 2008.

Sinead found him a "care-free, easy going fun guy".

She got pregnant three months into the relationship and Logan was born the following October.

Sinead recalled how she left Logan with Pickering while she returned to college for one day a week.

She was called out of an exam to news that Logan had been rushed to hospital.

Sinead said: "I have never felt so scared in all my life. I thought he was going to die."

Pickering insisted he knew nothing of Logan’s injuries but a specialist decided the skull fracture and bleed on the brain was "non-accidental.".

That meant Sinead was only allowed supervised access to her son.

"I was confused, angry and just wanted to hold my poorly baby," she said.

"Both myself and Steven were asked how the injuries happened and were given the opportunity to admit to anything. I was devastated that anyone could have hurt my baby.

"Had Steven confessed at the very beginning my baby would have been returned to me."

Instead, Logan was subject to an emergency care order and Sinead was forced to agree to hand him over.

With inquiries continuing, Logan was placed with foster parents and Sinead had a daily 30-mile round trip to see him.

"Leaving my baby was the hardest thing and our bond was destroyed," said Sinead.

"It was obvious he saw his foster mum and dad as his real parents and I was devastated. I missed so many of his milestones and I can never get that back."

A ‘findings of fact’ hearing was held in June 2010 when it was decided Pickering was responsible for the injuries.

But Logan was only returned to Sinead in January 2011, some two years after the assault.

"I feel bitter that I have lost two years of his life," said Sinead.

Doctors believe Logan will suffer no lasting effects but Sinead fears his walking and sense of balance is impaired.

Logan has started nursery and appears bright and happy.

Though mother and son have bonded again, Sinead has fled Huddersfield and is living in a secret location.

She was angry at Pickering’s suspended sentence and said: "He almost killed his own son and should have been locked up.

"I feel disappointed and let down by the system that it has taken since 2010 for this to come to court.

"But even now Steven hasn’t said how the injuries were caused."