Father threw girl at moving car

A father who threw his four-year-old daughter "like a doll" against a moving car, has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence.

Mold Crown Court heard how the man, 39, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, threw the child at her mother's car as she drove away from their home following a row.

The man, who admitted wounding, had been drinking heavily at the time.

Judge John Rogers QC said: "It was only a matter of chance that she did not sustain serious injury."

Gordon Hennell, prosecuting, said the incident occurred as the defendant's ex-wife left the house in her car during a row at about 0740 BST on 4 February this year.

I not only have to consider punishment, but the effect that punishment will have upon the relationship your daughter has with you Judge John Rogers QC

The court heard he had wanted to leave the girl with her mother so he could return to the pub.

Mr Hennell said: "She saw the defendant coming out of the house carrying their daughter who was in her pyjamas and carrying a pink comfort blanket."

The woman was unaware her daughter had been thrown against the car and drove off.

The court heard how the defendant initially appeared to walk past his daughter on the way back to his house, but then went to collect her after two teenage girls called out to the child.

Cuts and bruises

One of the girls dialled 999 and reported seeing the youngster thrown like a doll.

Mr Hennell said the defendant took his daughter to a neighbour - a nurse - and asked to be taken to hospital.

She was found to have cuts and bruises but no serious injuries.

The man initially claimed he wanted to get his daughter out of harm's way.

But he admitted wounding on the basis that he acted extremely recklessly while drunk.

'Daddy's girl'

Simon Mintz, defending, said the man had two previous convictions for drink driving but nothing for violence.

His former partner, who has now divorced the defendant, described him as "an extremely good father" and said the victim was "daddy's girl".

The judge said the man behaved "wickedly" and a prison sentence was inevitable.

But he added: "However, I not only have to consider punishment, but the effect that punishment will have upon the relationship your daughter has with you.

"With great hesitation, I am going to make you subject to a suspended sentence supervision order."

He was jailed for 50 weeks, suspended for two years. He was also placed under supervision for two years, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £700 in costs.