Man jailed for causing significant injuries to young toddler

Thursday, October 8, 2026

A MAN who caused significant injuries to a young toddler has been jailed.

Stephen Stanley forcefully gripped and repeatedly slapped the defenceless youngster causing significant bruising to the face, bottom, lower back and thigh.

Stanley denied harming the child, a boy, and tried to squirm out of it by lying and blaming others.

But he eventually admitted he was responsible and pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm to the boy at an address in Preston in January 2023.

Stanley, now 37, of Callon in Preston, appeared before Preston Crown Court on Wednesday (Oct 7th) where the judge jailed him for the maximum sentence he could impose - two years in prison.

The victim has thankfully suffered no lasting physical damage from the assault.

Det Con Sue Wilson, of Preston Police’s Child Protection Team, said: “Instead of caring for this little boy as he should Stanley took out his anger on a young defenceless child in what was a really nasty assault and then proceeded to lie repeatedly to try and cover his tracks.

“I welcome this sentence which reflects the gravity of the offending, and I hope that this little boy can now grow up surrounded by people who love and care for him.”

 

Stephen Stanley