I was in a bad mood, man who smashed toddler's leg tells court

A boy of three was kicked by his mother's live-in lover until his leg shattered, a court heard yesterday.

Chan Kwok-ho, 22, said a 'bad mood' sparked his brutal attack on Ng Chun-ming.

Chan slapped the toddler's face so hard it left massive bruising. Then he repeatedly hit the boy with a wire coat hanger.

Asked by District Court Deputy Judge Li Wai-chi why he had committed such an act, Chan replied: 'I do not know how to lead a normal life. I want to hide from reality.' Unemployed Chan told police the boy broke his leg on March 27 in an accident.

But in court, Chan - who represented himself - said he had not only used his fists and a hanger on Chun-ming, but he kicked him until his leg shattered.

Chan asked that the court records be changed to show this, saying: 'I should bear all the responsibility for hitting the boy.' The defendant admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard how doctors at Caritas Hospital in Kowloon became suspicious when Chan and Chun-ming's mother, Lam Yee-ni, brought in the battered toddler.