A TODDLER was left with 35 separate injuries inflicted by a heroin addict.

Mark Andrew Fisher, 23, of Belfield Road, Accrington, was only prevented from causing more harm to the child when the attacker's own mother shopped him to the police.

Richard Butcher, prosecuting, told the court that Marilyn Fisher described her son as an 'evil, aggressive, mad adult' when on heroin.

Mrs Fisher began noticing the child 'scared and starting to cry' when Fisher approached. She saw him smack the boy, and noticed red marks. Matters came to a head on December 8 when he struck the child 'so hard it would have hurt an adult'.

Later that day, the boy had a lump on his head and red lines down the side of his face, blood on his hands and in his nostrils. Mrs Fisher rang the police and the boy was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital to have his injuries assessed.

He was 'tearful and appeared scared', saying 'don't hurt me' to pediatric specialists.

There was bruising and grazes to his face, neck, arms, fingers, back, buttocks, thighs and knees. Some were fresh and some were yellowing, with 20 injuries alone to his lower back and buttocks, which was affecting his walking.

Mark Fisher was arrested along with the child's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

She admitted cruelty on the basis of failing to protect her child and exposing him to risk.

Fisher changed his plea to guilty ahead of a trial.

A statement from the victim's new foster father said the boy arrived 'scared and terrified, pleading 'don't bang me'. The child could not dress, feed or clean himself.

It said: “He is okay if constantly reassured that he is safe and not going to be hurt.”

The court heard Fisher had eight convictions in the past 10 years for batteries and assault which 'bore out the description his mother gave to police'.

Martin Hackett, for Fisher, said: “He has had drug difficulties throughout his life and they have manifested themselves in many ways. One way is for him to exhibit violence on those closest to him.”

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt said there was 'very little part of this child without injuries'. She said that on photographs 'you can almost see a hand shape, palm and fingers'.

Fisher was sentenced to two years, eight months and the mother 16 months imprisonment for one count of child cruelty each. Both were banned from working with children and vulnerable adults for life.

Following the sentence, Detective Constable Lyndsey Vaughton said: “The police treat these offences very seriously. This was a difficult investigation and I am very pleased with the sentence passed.”