A two-year-old boy left home alone was found wandering around his neighbourhood wearing only a diaper, a court has heard.
But truck driver Mak Siu-kei, 25, was spared prison when he appeared in Tuen Mun Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to neglecting the child.
Magistrate Winnie Lau Yee-wan instead sentenced Mak to a one-year probation programme because his offence was nonviolent and he was unaware of his responsibility in caring for the child.
Ill-treating or neglecting a child carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The court heard that Mak was left with the boy at the Yuen Long flat he shared with the boy's mother on July 18 when the woman went out shopping.
The mother, who is pregnant with Mak's child, called Mak and asked him to meet her to carry home some heavy bags.
She realised the baby was alone when the couple met at a supermarket.