A Penrith man has been refused bail after fronting court charged with beating and burning his girlfriend’s 10-month-old son on Sunday afternoon.
The baby boy has suffered burns to around 40 per cent of his body and remains in Westmead Children’s Hospital following the horrifying incident.
Police described the injuries as “significant and horrendous”.
Police have confirmed the man is not the baby’s biological father but he was alone with the 10-month-old when the incident occurred.
“Police have been in touch with the biological father and have engaged with him as part of the investigation,” said Superintendent Brett McFadden from Penrith Police.
It is understood the baby was placed into a shower and left alone with just the hot water running.
The charged man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, returned to the shower and discovered the baby’s “skin peeling off”, Penrith Local Court heard.
The court also heard that the man has a long history of violence and was known to police.
He will front court again in December.
The little boy’s biological father released a statement to The Daily Telegraph.
“Our hearts are broken for (our son), we cannot believe that this could happen to such a beautiful little boy,” the statement read.
“We just pray our little king has a full recovery and that he is still the happy and outgoing little boy he was before this.
About 3.50pm yesterday, NSW Ambulance Paramedics called for police assistance at a home in Penrith where they were treating the baby for severe burns.
The boy had suffered significant burns to his head, neck, chest and back, and was also suffering significant head and facial injuries.
He was taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where he was placed in an induced coma.
