A babysitter has received a suspended sentence for breaking an infant's leg while he was in her care.

The Court of Appeal was standing room only when President Edward Zacca told Betty Jean Steede her conviction was being upheld but her 12 month jail sentence would be suspended for two years.

The 51-year-old was convicted in January of causing grievous bodily harm to La'Naiye Simmons when he was five-months-old.

It remains unclear how the infant suffered the spiral fracture to his thigh-bone, which doctors said would have taken considerable force to inflict, and which left him in severe pain.

However, prosecutors suggested during the case that Steede had been changing the baby on the back of a sofa at her home in Swans Bay, Pembroke, and grabbed his leg to stop him falling. The defendant protested her innocence during her eight-day Supreme Court trial, telling the jury at one stage: "I love children. They're my life."

Explaining their decision Mr. Justice Zacca said: "This was a spur of the moment decision. It was a dangerous thing to do. Having realised her mistake the defendant reacted swiftly by preventing the infant from falling on the tile floor."

The mother of infant La'Naiye previously told the court her son's right leg remains shorter than his left as a result of the injury.

He continues to undergo physical therapy and must be x-rayed every six months for the next two years to check on his recovery.

As Steede left the court yesterday surrounded by friends she said: "Thank you Gov. Hallelujah!"