A FORMER Widnes soldier who attacked a little boy with so much force he broke his leg has been jailed.

Robert Maher, 26, of Ridsdale, Ditton, threw the seven-year-old to the floor and then knelt on his legs.

The sustained attack only stopped when he heard the boy’s femur (thighbone) snap – and he broke down in tears after realising what he had done.

Sentencing him at Warrington Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Tina Landale said: “A great deal of force would have been needed to break the largest bone in his little body.

“He was a small seven year-old-boy, you are a mature, physically fit man.

“You have a short temper and a short fuse. After a fit of rage you lost your temper and shouted at him.”

Maher, who served in the Royal Artillery for two and half years, was sentenced to two years and four months.

He admitted the section 20 assault at an earlier hearing on May 11.

Judge Landale said the boy now faces ‘lifelong problems’ following the attack.

“The impact on him has been severe, physically and psychologically.

“All this will cause him lifelong problems. His schooling and his confidence have suffered.

“This was a vulnerable victim who suffered a grave injury.

“Once you threw the boy to the floor I might expect the shock of your action would bring you to your senses but you continued to press down using your legs on him.

“This was a sustained assault.”

Prosecuting Sarah Badrawy said Maher attacked the boy for spilling paint on August 30 last year.

“He grabbed hold of the boy by the leg and threw him to the floor,” Ms Badrawy told the court.

“He knelt on his legs.”

When he heard a snapping sound, she said, he started crying saying: ‘I think I’ve broken his leg. I’m sorry.’ Defending Simon Christie said: “This incident was out of the blue not in any way premeditated.

“This was a spontaneous incident.”

Maher, of previous good character, had already spent nine weeks in custody whilst on remand.