A judge yesterday branded Dean Cunliffe "arrogant, cruel and callous" for his sadistic attack on the defenceless child.

Judge David Aubrey, QC added: "You placed a cigarette upon her in a deliberate act.

"You knew full well the pain and anguish that would cause to such a vulnerable young girl. She screamed out, precisely as you knew she would."

Jailing him for two and a half years, Judge Aubrey said: "It was not an isolated act because on another occasion you caused bruising to her by jabbing her."

The 24-year-old from Forest Avenue, Beech Hill, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault. Liverpool Crown Court heard that he had previous convictions for violence.

Daniel Rogers, prosecuting, said the offences happened while Cunliffe was living with then girlfriend Billie Jo Johnson and her daughter in Wigan.

Johnson, also 24, of Redwood Avenue, Beech Hill, Wigan, appeared alongside him in the dock having admitted child cruelty.

The offences came to light when the little girl started school last autumn and the headteacher became concerned because she was dirty, unkempt, constantly hungry and often failed to attend, explaining she had trouble waking her mother up.

She noticed a large bruise on the child's arm on October 16 which she said had been caused by Cunliffe jabbing her because she had been naughty.

When the head told Johnson she had informed social services she admitted she was struggling to care for her daughter.

At hospital the girl was found to have a cigarette burn to the left side of her chest, which she said was a "cig dig" from Cunliffe.

She also had three linear bruises to her left thigh consistent with finger marks and slapping and bald patches on her head caused by her plucking hair because of head lice.

When interviewed by police the child said that she did not like Cunliffe and the burn was caused by a cannabis joint through her pink top.

"He was cross about something else at the time," she said.
Cunliffe claimed the injuries had been caused accidentally. Johnson said that she had caused the leg bruising while chastising her because she had been tormenting the dogs.

She accepted she was unable to cope with looking after the child, who is now with her paternal grandparents and whose father is seeking parental rights.

Paul Becker, defending, said that Cunliffe – who also admitted handling property stolen in a burglary and breaching his bail – had spared the child the ordeal of giving evidence.

Judge Aubrey told Johnson: "I do not regard you as an callous individual but there is no doubt whatever that you were failing your child."

She has served the equivalent of a month's imprisonment while on remand and the judge placed her under supervision for two years.