IPSWICH: A teenage father who twisted and broke the leg of his ten-week-old son during a “momentary loss of temper” could be a free man within only seven months.

Kane Burton, 18, was sentenced to two years behind bars when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court.

But he will spend only half of his sentence locked up and has already served five months on remand awaiting his punishment.

Burton, of Station Street, Ipswich, had previously admitted assaulting the baby between April 30 and May 2 last year.

The court was told his son would have suffered serious pain as a result of the assault.

Police previously confirmed that the original reports they received relating to the assault charge stated Burton had taken the tot to the Riverside Clinic in Landseer Road, Ipswich, on May 1.

Staff at the walk-in medical centre assessed the baby’s injuries before referring him to Ipswich Hospital.

At the time it was said that the baby boy had sustained a fracture to a rib on his left-hand side and another fracture to his right femur – the thigh bone.

Burton, who was aged 17 when he was responsible for the actual bodily harm, was arrested on May 5 and taken to Ipswich police station for questioning. He was charged on October 8.

During the hearing, Burton’s barrister, Roger Thomson, said his client had tried to be a good dad.

Mitigating for Burton, Mr Thomson said: “This was a momentary loss of temper.

“He has been honest and open and he is extremely remorseful. He has been trying to be a good dad in his own way.

“He is going to have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life. He does appear to have faced up to what he has done.”

The court heard Burton caused a spiral fracture of his son’s femur.

Sentencing Burton to two years in jail, Judge Peter Thompson said: “You have pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm on your own son who was, at the time, ten weeks old.

“The femur is the biggest bone in the body. It must have meant some twisting of the child’s leg.”

Judge Thompson, who gave Burton credit for his guilty plea, said the child must have suffered serious pain.

A number of other charges were laid on file.