Update: Now living in Worthing October 2008 Builder threw four-month-old baby six feet across a room An alcoholic builder who threw a four-month-old baby six feet across a room has avoided a prison sentence The little boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, could have died if not for the quick reactions of his mother, who caught him in mid-air. Stuart Lacy, 36, of Prenton Dell Road, Prenton, was found guilty of common assault and battery at Wirral magistrates court. But he was sentenced yesterday to just 160 hours of unpaid work. The court heard the alcoholic, who owns a building firm, was in a relationship with the mother of the baby. In June, the woman asked Lacy to look after the baby and her three-year-old while she went out and at the time she was happy he was looking after the children. Jeremy Decker, prosecuting, said: “She returned at 12.30am to find he was there with three friends, all drunk. “They continued drinking and she began to feel uncomfortable about the situation. “The baby began to cry and she asked him [Lacy] to leave the men and come upstairs to assist her. It was then that he picked up the four-month-old and threw the boy across the room, a distance of six feet.” The court heard at that point the mother lurched forward and successfully caught the distraught baby. When Lacy followed the woman downstairs, he attacked his partner, trapping her arm in a cupboard and injuring her wrist. Addressing the court, Lacy said: “This happened because of drugs and alcohol, but since then I have taken the initiative. “I am in contact with Wirral Alcohol Service and am going to Arch for help. “I miss him and I love him very much. I am trying to make this better and I am very sorry.” Chairman of the magistrates Arthur Waller said it was an extremely serious offence. Lacy received no credit for forcing the case to go to trial and was given 160 hours of community work. He must pay the baby’s mother £150 of compensation, which will be collected before court costs of £250, at a rate of £30 a week.