BABY FORCED TO SMOKE CANNABIS

A teenager who forced a baby to smoke cannabis has been sentenced to
four-and-a-half years custody.

Michael Carter, 19, put the pipe filled with the drug into the
six-month-old girl's mouth at least three times during drug-smoking
sessions, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

He also admitted dropping her on the floor, which resulted in a fractured
skull and broken ribs.

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes told the court that Carter, of Graig-y-Rhacca,
Caerphilly, was a regular user of cannabis.

"He admits putting the pipe holding cannabis into the baby's mouth," he
told the court.

Grievous bodily harm

Mr Hughes explained that an x-ray revealed the fractures to the baby's head
and ribs.

Carter later admitted to dropping the child on the floor, punching her, and
throwing her into a cot.

He admitted two charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm and one of
failing to obtain medical assistance for the child.

Hugh Wallace, defending, said Carter was "reckless" but did not intend to
harm the baby.

Judge David Wynn Morgan sentenced Carter to four-and-a-half years in a
young offender institution.

He told Carter: "These were not isolated incidents but a course of reckless
behaviour which caused the gravest of injuries."