March 2014 Olympian jailed for slapping crying 14-month old baby A SPECIAL Olympian slapped a 14-month-old baby girl because she cried while he watched football on television. Volleyball player Steven Morrin, 23, was jailed for 19 months for the attack which left the tot with a serious eye injury and severe bruising. The girl’s mum said: “She still has nightmares and wakes up screaming in the night. “The attack left my baby daughter with bruising all over her face. She had bleeding inside her ear. There was congealed blood there and her eyes were all bloodshot. “I’m glad I have got justice for my wee girl, although I was hoping he would be sentenced to longer. “My four-year-old son witnessed what happened and he has nightmares too.” In 2003, Morrin, of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, played for the UK team in Ireland at the Special Olympics, which showcases people with learning disabilities. At Ayr Sheriff Court, he admitted assaulting the tot to her severe injury at a home in Troon. He had slapped her on the face, causing her head to strike an unidentified object. The baby was taken to Ayr Hospital, where she was found to have extensive bruising to her face, neck and ears and haemorrhaging of her right eye. Solicitor Matt Jackson said: “Mr Morrin had taken some drink – perhaps three cans of lager – and he was watching a football match. “He was engaged with that match and the child was demanding of his attention. “He believes it may have been a build-up of these demands and frustration caused by them which led him to slap the child.” Sherriff Carole Cunningham said: “An assault on a defenceless child, causing severe injury, is so serious as to merit a custodial sentence.”