A man who shook a crying, teething baby in Hatfield was today given a chance to put the incident behind him.

Norton Howard, 26, grabbed the 10-month-old boy under the arms causing a nose bleed and small red marks on his body.

Howard, a chef who now lives in Gosport, Hants, was confronted by the child’s mother and left the house immediately, St Albans crown court was told.

Prosecutor Charles Judge said the couple were no longer together.

Howard, of Coulmere Road, Gosport, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to causing child cruelty between December 9 to 12 last year.

He was of previous good character.

The court heard he still contributed £200 a week to the family and was in contact over FaceTime.

Defending, Chantelle Stocks said Howard was “mortified by his actions and has expressed genuine remorse.”

She said he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Judge Stephen Warner told him: “You lost control of yourself when you had responsibility for a young child.

“Thankfully the injuries were not more serious.”

He passed a 12 month community order with 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours’ unpaid work.

Howard must also pay £100 prosecution costs.