A seven-week-old baby rushed to hospital suffering from meningitis was also found to have multiple fractures of the ribs, a jury was told.

The injuries, alleged to have been caused deliberately, came to light when doctors were examining X-rays.

Philip Katz, prosecuting, told Chichester Crown Court the injuries were consistent with "extreme force and pressure" being used on the baby boy.

In the dock is a 32-year-old man who denies two charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the child on separate occasions between his birth and April 21, 1999.

The defendant cannot be identified for legal

reasons.

At the start of the trial Judge John Sessions told the jury that much of the evidence they would hear would come from medical experts.

Mr Katz told the jury the baby was born in early March by caesarean

section at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.

He said the baby was born in a poor condition at 36 weeks and resuscitation was needed.

On April 20, the now seven-week old child was taken back to the hospital by ambulance from an address in Bognor with suspected meningitis.

The child was suffering acute breathing problems and had to be given

resuscitation and heart massage.

Mr Katz told the jury that X-rays later showed the baby had multiple fractures of the ribs, which in the opinion of the consultant were "highly suggestive of non-accidental injury".

He told the jury the prosecution maintained the fractures could not have occurred at birth during resuscitation, or when the baby was being taken to hospital with meningitis.

The jury was told that witnesses due to give

evidence included an expert from the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

The trial continues.

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