A former lifeguard who “violently” shook a toddler he was babysitting and punched his legs and hips has been jailed.

Daniel Coombs, 32, faced a child cruelty charge after he was seen by his then partner hurting the 18-month-old boy in his own home in Sittingbourne on August 26, 2023.

As a result of the ordeal, the tot was kept in hospital for seven days to assess the impact of the shaking.

Now, the family of the youngster have told KentOnline how the whole situation has been “extremely difficult to process.”

His parents said: “The effect it has had on our son and our family as a whole has been immense.

“Seeing our son go from a cheeky, fun loving, inquisitive typical little boy, to one that is clingy, fearful, and cautious, whilst experiencing night terrors, is indescribable.

“Bruises and marks heal and fade, but the emotional and mental trauma from it doesn't heal and fade as quickly.”

The devastated parents went on to say “there is no justification for our son being hurt at 18 months old”.

The court heard how Coombs, from Gillingham, was babysitting two children with his ex-partner, who was friends with their parents.

Judge Philip Statman, speaking at a sentencing hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, said: “His parents knew you would be babysitting him together with your then partner.”

“She saw you with your hands on his head shaking him violently.

“She described it as being four occasions of shaking. She then saw you punching him with a clenched fist.

“Then a further two punches to him which she described as being far lighter.”

The court heard how the partner had believed those lighter punches were part of an attempt to “cover up” his previous actions and “made it look like a game” he had been playing.

The judge continued: “You then asked him to give you a cuddle – which he did.”

Coombs’ ex-partner said during the incident he had a look on his face she had “never seen before”.

“He looked angry or something else,” she added.

The court heard how the partner then grabbed the 18-month-old and took a moment to consider her obligations and responsibilities to the child and his family.

At the time of the offence, Coombs was 31 years old and the victim’s sister, age six at the time, was also in the room when the incident occurred.

Just after 8pm on August 26, Coombs ex-partner spoke with the youngster’s mother about what had happened.

The child was then admitted to hospital and a “superficial wound” or abrasion was noted on his left leg and the child’s father then went on to report the conduct to the police.

The judge said: “We know that he [the victim] was kept in hospital for seven days.”

The child’s mother, who isn’t being named to protect the victim’s identity, said in her impact statement her son is now cautious around people with beards like Coombs.

“We have struggled to come to terms about what happened to him,” she said.

“We are trying to process that our son was assaulted by someone we trusted. I don’t understand how someone can hurt a child.”

Judge Statman added: “The parents do not have either psychological or psychiatric qualifications… but some may say there is no one more equipped to notice changes in their children.”

Bethan Rogers, defending, explained how the judge was looking at a “single incident” and explained how the offence did not seem to have a “proper explanation”.

She said: “Having talked to him [Coombs] about it, that does not preclude him from understanding the impact of what he has done.

“It seems to me quite clear that there is probably something wrong here but it remains unclear without investigation or assessment what that is”.

She told the court how Coombs childhood was “peppered with violence” and how he had received learning support without any diagnosis.

‘I don’t understand how someone can hurt a child...’

“He is no longer employed and is now street homeless,” she added.

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: “You were aware at the time that you had in your care, babysitting with your then partner, a child of 18 months and you are a man well into adulthood who has a firm grip of the differences between right and wrong.”

The judge recognised that Coombs had previously worked in positions where he had “cared for others” both as a lifeguard and also caring for the elderly.

Furthermore, the court was told of Coombs background of depression and anxiety.

But in response, the judge said he did not think the incident had been triggered by mental health and went on to explain he believed Coombs knew “exactly what you were doing and your culpability at the time in my judgement was not reduced”.

Judge Statman said: “You know that a child ought never to be shaken, we are dealing here with a child who was 18 months at the time.

“The incident of cruelty took place at an address where the child should have felt total safety.”

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said: “There is, in my judgement, only one way this court can deal with you and this by way of immediate custody.”

Coombs was sentenced to 20 months in prison, which was reduced to 17 months as per the credit given due to his guilty plea.

He will serve 40% of that sentence and will remain on licence until its conclusion.

A restraining order preventing him from speaking to the family or visiting their home was placed on the offender and is in place for 10 years.

The parents of the victim said: “We are trying to heal, process and move forward as a family, which is a difficult task to do.

“The sentence that Daniel Coombs received wasn't long enough in our eyes. We are glad he has received a sentence in prison, but it will never make up or justify what he did to our son or the knock on effect it has had on our other children and us.

"His defence said he's remorseful, but not once has he shown any remorse or said sorry. Not that it would excuse it, but there's not been any remorse from his or his family that have tried to justify it."