A FATHER who shook his son so badly it left him blind is behind bars as he awaits sentence.

Paul Sykes, 40, was due to be sentenced yesterday for committing grievous bodily harm against tot Charlie Senior, two.

The judge, Recorder Caroline Wigin, adjourned the case because she was unhappy with a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service.

But she ordered that Sykes, of Stocks Way, Shepley, be kept in custody until the April 24 sentencing after hearing he had threatened Charlie’s mum, Joanne Senior, before yesterday’s hearing.

Prosecutor David Hall said there had been an exchange of words outside the court.

He said: “At the end of it, the defendant said to Joanne Senior: ‘When I get out of prison I’m going to get you. That’s a promise, not a threat.’”

He added that Sykes had already breached bail conditions by telephoning Miss Senior while he was on bail following the last hearing.

Gillian Batts, defending Sykes, said her client denied making the threat and that others had been involved in the altercation.

She said Sykes should be allowed to spend some time with his family before he was sentenced.

But Miss Recorder Wigin said there was a chance he would commit a further offence if he was released on bail.

She said: “There has been behaviour today in the precincts of the court to cause concern to the court staff.

“I’m not making any determination as to where the blame lay, but the defendant was involved in an inappropriate way.”

Sykes pleaded guilty in March to grievous bodily harm.

The charge related to an incident on May 18 2007, when his son, of Willow Grove, Golcar, was just 15 weeks old.

The youngster was left blind and with restricted movement in the right side of his body after being shaken by builder Sykes.

Medical tests carried out last week confirmed he is unlikely to be able to see anything more than light and dark for the rest of his life.

The long-term effects will not be known for some time, but could also include severe learning difficulties.

The judge ordered a new pre-sentence report and adjourned for two-and-a-half weeks.