A DRUNKEN babysitter who seized hold of a two-year-old boy causing injuries to his chest and groin area today escaped a jail sentence.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that David Shaw, 25, from Baillieston, Glasgow, had also smoked several cannabis joints before looking after the child at a house in Glasgow on July 6, 2014.

Shaw admitted culpably and recklessly seizing hold of the boy, inflicting blunt force trauma to his body and groin area and applying pressure to his chest and compressing it by means unknown.

Advocate depute Rosemary Guinnane, prosecuting, said: “During the course of the afternoon Shaw was seen to drink around six or seven cans of lager and a bottle of Mad dog 20/20.

“In the evening he had several cans of cider and several joints of cannabis.”

Shaw was left looking after the child and when he saw he was bleeding decided to give him a bath. He grabbed the boy tightly by his pyjama top and chest and put him in the bath.

Ms Guinnane said: “The accused sought to restrain him while in the bath by holding him by the face and chin while still keeping hold of his pyjama top.”

When the boy’s mother returned home she took her son to the accident and emergency department of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

She said she asked Shaw: Did you batter my wean,: and he replied: “No.”

When the boy was examined a number of facial and head injuries were noted which included petechieal haemorrhages under both eyes, on the left side of the neck and the forehead.

A doctor who examined the boy said it was likely that the petechiae haemorrhages were caused by increased pressure around the area of the neck, although there was no mark to indicate a ligature round the neck and no fingertip bruising to suggest strangulation.

Judge Lady Rae ordered Shaw to perform 260 hours unpaid work in the community and said she was doing this with “ some reluctance.”