James Newton-Price has successfully prosecuted a father who caused severe chemical injuries to his own 27 day old son.

A father who put ‘Hot Pepper Sauce’ on his new born baby son’s bottom to try to relieve his constipation – inflicting severe burns – has been jailed for three years. A forensic burns consultant and plastic surgeon told Salisbury Crown Court he had never seen anything similar in over 3,000 cases. James Newton-Price, prosecuting, said the father’s actions were ‘exceptionally irresponsible’ even if the defendant meant no harm. He argued the extreme severity of the injury, the obvious vulnerability of the baby, the pain and distress caused, and the failure to seek medical help were aggravating factors.

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