September 2011 Bristol dad and lover jailed for abuse of 14-month-old girl A man who let his girlfriend abuse a 14-month-old girl has been told by a judge that he would ban him from having children if he had the power. Jordain Palmer, 19, was locked up for four years for failing to prevent the horrific injuries Melissa Phillips inflicted on the child. Phillips has also been sentenced to four years after she left the toddler with fractures to her hands, left wrist and a shin bone, as well as bruises that covered her face, torso and legs. Every one of the child’s finger-nails was blackened, perhaps from being stamped on or shut in a door frame. Injury to the childs ears could have been caused by being picked up by them. Judge David Ticehurst lamented the fact that his sentencing powers were restricted to putting Palmer behind bars and told him: ‘It is a matter of regret that I do not have the power to stop you having children in the future. Sickening: The child’s body was covered with bruises, her fingernails were falling off and her toes were marked from being stamped on ‘If I had the power to, I would use it. You are not a fit and proper person to have children. Whether you ever will be in the future remains to be seen.’ In fact Palmer has already fathered a baby with 19-year-old Phillips, who has three children. After hearing of the shocking catalogue of abuse meted out to the child, the judge told Palmer at Bristol Crown Court: ‘There was a systematic course of deliberate cruelty to her. ‘Despite that you did nothing whatsoever about it and you let matters continue. You were not responsible for the injuries but your culpability is almost as great as hers.’ Concern was raised about the frail state of the girl in March last year. The toddler was just 14 months old when a worried relative took her to a GP. A doctor immediately referred her to Bristol children’s hospital after noticing her walk with a limp and staff there concluded the injuries were not accidental. Emergency X-rays revealed she had a healing fracture of a shin bone just below the knee, a fractured left wrist and a fracture of the left forearm. Fractures to the base of the second and third metacarpals of the left hand and at the base of the third metacarpal on the right hand were also identified. All the nails of both hands as well as those of her big toes were ripped and black. She also had bruising to her face, ears, rib cage and legs. All three children born to Phillips are now in the care of others