A YOUNG girl was kicked, punched and choked by her stepfather on three separate occasions — one of them for being late for school.

The 28-year-old man, who has been given a community service order, kicked the ten-year-old girl with his steel-toecapped boots. On two other occasions, when she was younger than ten, he punched her so hard in the chest and stomach that she vomited.

The Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday that he also throttled her until she collapsed with dizziness. Gasps of disgust from the public gallery were heard as the prosecution outlined the case. Police legal adviser Advocate Robin Morris said that in the afternoon of 17 October the head teacher of Miss X’s school contacted the police after she said she had been kicked by her stepfather.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, admitted intentionally or recklessly causing harm to Miss X on 17 October this year and between 1 January 2005 and 16 October this year at a flat in St Helier. Defence Advocate Vicky Milner said that the man had had an abusive upbringing but he was extremely remorseful for his actions.

• Picture: The exterior of the Magistrate’s Court