A MAN who beat a child with a television scart lead in a row about him not finishing his school lunchbox has been jailed for a year.

Patrick Ngorima “saw red” during the argument with the boy and struck him a number of times with the cable in what Teesside Crown Court was told was a sustained assault.

The blows, with the metal part of the lead to the victim's head and body, left a number of scars, along with multiple bruising.

Ngorima, 42, of Talbot Street, Stockton, who is originally from Zimbabwe, admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a separate offence of child cruelty.

Prosecuting, Katie Rafter said the defendant admitted assaulting the boy on one occasion.

Deborah Sherwin, mitigating, said: “At the time he did not appreciate he had caused such injuries.

“It is a matter that causes him particular shame.”

Recorder William Lowe said Ngorima had behaved in a way that was utterly disgraceful.

He said: “It is inexcusable to use that level of violence on a young boy. It was a sustained attack on a vulnerable child with a weapon.”

He jailed the defendant for a year, while taking into account his previous good character and his remorsefulness.