AN IPSWICH man is awaiting his fate after he slapped a four-year-old child so hard it left red marks on her face, a court heard.Magistrates ordered reports before sentencing David Went, of Peppercorn Way, after he admitted common assault on the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

AN IPSWICH man is awaiting his fate after he slapped a four-year-old child so hard it left red marks on her face, a court heard.

Magistrates ordered reports before sentencing David Went, of Peppercorn Way, after he admitted common assault on the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard Went became annoyed after the tot allegedly broke a new rotary washing line, said Gareth Davies, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

The child's mother took her daughter to social services department in Tower Street where two employees noticed red marks on the left-hand side of the youngster's face.

According to a hospital doctor: "The marks were compatible with a heavy slap…the marks indicated considerable force being used at the time," said Mr Davies.

Police were contacted and Went was arrested and interviewed and admitted he struck the child on the face once.

He said he was angry about the child swinging on the washing line and breaking it.

Went spoke to the girl and as he did so banged his hand down next to the child.

The 42-year-old unintentionally struck her when she moved her face.

Roger Stewart, mitigating, said the act wasn't deliberate. It was an isolated incident and Went, who showed remorse, has no record of violence recorded against him.

Bench chair Bernie Stone ordered reports before Went returns to South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court for sentencing on July 18