Man jailed for 'sadistic' acts towards boy

A man has been jailed for his "sadistic" crimes against the four-year-old son of his girlfriend, who is now engaged to him and plans to start a family with him.

Judge Wayne Chivell found the man had flicked the boy's penis, hit him on the bottom with a spoon and given him a "wedgie" causing a rash type injury.

In the South Australian District Court, he jailed the 25-year-old Adelaide man for three years, with a non-parole period of two years.

"You have behaved in a very specific, calculating and rather unusual and sadistic way," he said.

Judge Chivell, who heard the trial without a jury, found the man guilty in April of three counts of aggravated assault causing harm and three of aggravated indecent assault over a three-month period.

The man had grossly abused the position of trust imposed on him and harmed a very young defenceless and blameless child, he said.

The boy's parents had shared custody and photos taken by the father of his son's injuries were before the judge at the trial.

The mother's boyfriend has blamed the father for the injuries and is challenging his convictions.

Judge Chivell said the man had caused irreparable damage to the boy's relationship with his mother, who now had no access to him.

The couple was now engaged and planned to start a family, he added.

The man had no history of violence or mental illness and references described him as respectful and a "good role model to others".

Victim impact statements from the boy's father and grandmother spoke of the child now having problems at school, including outbursts of violence.

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