A father is facing jail after breaking his five-week-old daughter’s arm by twisting it as he lifted her up after becoming “frustrated” trying to settle her during the night.
The man who cannot be named to protect the girl’s identity later told the police he was confused because he had been using cannabis.
He said he had become “frustrated” while trying to settle his daughter to sleep in a car seat overnight.
The 27-year-old then “grabbed, twisted and pulled” the girl into the air at which point he heard a “crack”.
A spiral fracture in the girl’s arm was later identified.
Depute fiscal Beverly Adam told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “The child was a healthy baby and her mother and father would do alternate nights on changing and feeding.
“On August 2 last year the accused and his partner retired to bed late in the evening.
“There were no apparent issues and he was the nominated person for night feeds that night.
“Overnight she heard the child screaming and he was seen to bring the baby through and ask his partner to calm her down.
“He stated he had picked her up because she was screaming and he heard a crack from her elbow. Later in the morning they observed her left arm to be lopsided.
“The following day the baby was taken to an unrelated medical appointment.
“When she was admitted she was found to have suffered a spiral fracture to the left humerus caused by rotational movement.
“She was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh where the accused gave an account of picking up the baby and indicated she might have trapped her arm on the car seat.”
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct.
Sheriff James Williamson deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports.
The man was released on bail meantime.