September 2013 Baby almost died after sex abuse by ‘callous’ leeds teenager A teenager who nearly killed a 10-month-old baby during horrific sex abuse has been locked up for 14 years. The baby boy was close to death and had to be revived twice in hospital after his ordeal at the hands of 19-year-old Paul Ward, of Edinburgh Avenue, Armley, Leeds. Leeds Crown Court heard the baby bled heavily and would have been screaming with pain when Ward abused him with three items of cutlery on January 26. The court heard the baby was fitting and turning blue. The baby boy was close to death and had to be revived twice in hospital The baby suffered a ruptured bowel and had to undergo surgery. The court also heard the child now has a colostomy bag. Ward admitted one charge of wounding with intent. He denied three charges of assault by penetration of a child under 13, but was convicted by a Leeds Crown Court jury after a trial. Judge Neil Clark sent Ward to a young offender institution for 14 years and ordered an eight year extension to his licence on release. Judge Clarke told Ward: “On two occasions he nearly passed away. Doctors said the injuries to his bowel were acutely painful. ”It would have been obvious to you that he would have been in distress and severe pain and yet you continued to do it. You did that not just intending serious harm, but with a sexual motive. This is perhaps the most unpleasant abuse of a baby that I have ever come across.” Det Insp Lawrence Bone, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Ward was found guilty of appalling sexual abuse against a baby he had been entrusted to care for. He is clearly a callous and dangerous individual who has scant regard for the pain and suffering the child has endured. The victim had to undergo emergency surgery and the prognosis remains uncertain.” Ward’s name will be on the sex offender register for life.